as in pressure
the burden on one's emotional or mental well-being created by demands on one's time
under a lot of tension right now about her decision not to go to college
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Recent Examples of tension
Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Extended élevage allows tannins to gain longer-chain molecules, lending elegance and silkiness while maintaining the wine’s mineral tension.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2026
Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2022
The roof bars tension the whole tent nicely, pulling against the stakes, so there’s no slack in the walls and no sag in the roof.
—Bill Gifford, Outside Online, 26 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for tension
Noun
The tension is reminiscent of another playing surface debate, one that’s raged for years in the world’s richest sports league.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Extended élevage allows tannins to gain longer-chain molecules, lending elegance and silkiness while maintaining the wine’s mineral tension.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
In a lengthy chat with host Stephen Colbert, the director and actress spoke about everything from firing Shia LaBeouf to tension with star Florence Pugh to whether Harry Styles actually spit on Chris Pine.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2022
The roof bars tension the whole tent nicely, pulling against the stakes, so there’s no slack in the walls and no sag in the roof.
—Bill Gifford, Outside Online, 26 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for tension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tension
Noun
-
Weak onshore flows will then return Saturday, which combined with a weakening high pressure system are expected to bring five to 10 degrees of cooling to the coasts and valleys but little change across interior sections, according to the weather service.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Iran may have positioned the Houthis as a regional player that can exert pressure on Iran’s neighbors, but the Houthis have always put their own interests first.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The uneven ground forces the body to tense with every step.—
Abraham Nudelstejer,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Curtis seemed to tense up amid the smooth onslaught.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Indian hotelier Ashok Khanna founded the place as a response to epidemic stress levels, with a mission to rebalance holistically.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The soft, squeezable texture of this toy is designed to alleviate stress and provide endless fun.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But in the nineteen-nineties, as regulations tightened, local interest waned.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
When inflation rises, central banks often respond by tightening monetary policy.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Fitting back into the scheme after his absence, James focused on setting screens for the short-handed frontcourt that was without Jaxson Hayes (back soreness) and Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain).—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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The strain of an historically bad season can be seen in this squad.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tension. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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