1
as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty
was tense about the upcoming bar exam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
a tense relationship existed between the two teachers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tight
stretched with little or no give
a tense rope
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tense
David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
When the room gets tense, the standard becomes the anchor.
—Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
Limited rib mobility interferes with the ability to breathe deeply, triggering your body’s stress response, which increases muscle tensing as a guarding mechanism.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tense
Adjective
In the tense 72 hours before D-Day, the fate of the world hangs in the balance.
—David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
When the room gets tense, the standard becomes the anchor.
—Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Verb
Everyone in the barber shop flinched at the sound and tensed their shoulders.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
Limited rib mobility interferes with the ability to breathe deeply, triggering your body’s stress response, which increases muscle tensing as a guarding mechanism.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
Breezily elegant in execution and at times even Hitchcockian, The Girlfriend is a delicious thriller that tenses up with each new scene and revelation.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tense
Adjective
-
Reformers were worried that putting more money into the hands of local school districts, without oversight to ensure that it was being spent effectively, would lead to its diversion into administration and more generous union contracts rather than hands-on instruction for kids who needed it most.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
-
Yu said that, as China has strengthened its social safety net, people are less worried about having to rely on others.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
While speaking to AZFamily, graduate Grace Reimer said the situation left her feeling uneasy.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
-
The excellent and the ordinary coexist, but have an uneasy relationship.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
Beyond Akkermansia muciniphila, Pendulum's products feature Clostridium butyricum and Clostridium beijerinckii, both butyrate-producing strains that fuel colon cells, support tight junctions in the gut lining, and stimulate GLP-1 production.—
Shimite Obialo,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
The plans come with no long-term contracts and predictable pricing designed to provide stability for households managing tight budgets.—
Cox Communications,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Unlike traditional denim that fits one minute and not the next, these jeans have a stretchy elastic waistband with an adjustable drawstring that can easily be loosened after a big meal or tightened to ensure a secure fit.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
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Third, Ukrainian drone strikes are catalyzing profound morale issues within Russia itself, methodically shattering the illusion of domestic security cultivated by the Kremlin, as the Kremlin tightens its grip over society, including through the suspension of popular messaging apps such as Telegram.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Reliable salicylic acid gently exfoliates dead skin cells and tightens the look of pores while time-tested, calming K-beauty favorites, such as cica, mugwort, and artemisia powder—which can kill off acne-causing bacteria—help leave skin looking softer and smoother.—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
20 May 2026
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The announcement highlights how China’s largest technology companies are increasingly investing in their own processors as Washington tightens controls on access to advanced American semiconductor technology.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
All Cayenne Electric models feature adaptive suspension, but even in Comfort mode, the Coupe felt harsh and nervous on bumpy roads.—
Tim Stevens,
ArsTechnica,
26 May 2026
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In this Gallic Neverland, there’s not a safety helmet (or nervous parent) in sight, which admittedly adds to the film’s feral energy.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
25 May 2026
Adjective
-
In a statement to local media, the town government said Fox Rothschild has long represented Rolesville and called the incident deeply disturbing.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
23 May 2026
-
In September 2016, economics professor Matthew Hendricks and some 3,000 other employees at the University of Tulsa received a disturbing email from the administration.—
Matt Schifrin,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
But on last week’s 60 Minutes interview, Nolan, a taut, cerebral presence on TV, failed somewhat to create excitement for his new film The Odyssey, its basic plot sounding vaguely reminiscent of a college extension class – one emblazoned by Imax.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
22 May 2026
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Dombrowski decided to retain Thomson after a taut, four-game series defeat to the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers last October.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tense. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
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