as in pressures
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 tensions
Michael Collins, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
The company had also recently staged a high-profile Cybertruck delivery event in Dubai’s Al Marmoom desert, handing over 63 vehicles in January, just weeks before tensions escalated.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 1 Apr. 2026
The mother and father have four young children, and the story unfolds primarily through the youngest of the four, whose innocence contrasts the growing tensions within the household.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2026
Cooling tensions Literacy coach Megan Kalista (left) helps students with their reading and writing skills at Cliftondale Elementary in Fulton County's southwestern region.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump may soon be carrying these tensions to Beijing, though talks scheduled for the end of March were postponed.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
The long-simmering tensions within the alliance have bubbled up again over the war in Iran.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
Regardless of the outcome, Thune said that the vote helps Republicans go back on offense after weeks of intraparty tensions over the SAVE America Act.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 26 Mar. 2026
Moscow’s support for Tehran is likely to further escalate tensions with the West and especially the US.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
But murmurs of laughter broke out a few times when justices noted constitutional tensions in the case.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
The company had also recently staged a high-profile Cybertruck delivery event in Dubai’s Al Marmoom desert, handing over 63 vehicles in January, just weeks before tensions escalated.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 1 Apr. 2026
The mother and father have four young children, and the story unfolds primarily through the youngest of the four, whose innocence contrasts the growing tensions within the household.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2026
Cooling tensions Literacy coach Megan Kalista (left) helps students with their reading and writing skills at Cliftondale Elementary in Fulton County's southwestern region.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump may soon be carrying these tensions to Beijing, though talks scheduled for the end of March were postponed.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
The long-simmering tensions within the alliance have bubbled up again over the war in Iran.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
Regardless of the outcome, Thune said that the vote helps Republicans go back on offense after weeks of intraparty tensions over the SAVE America Act.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 26 Mar. 2026
Moscow’s support for Tehran is likely to further escalate tensions with the West and especially the US.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tensions
Noun
-
Geopolitical shifts compound these pressures.—
Smooth Nzewi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Simon has kept the show running like clockwork through one of its most surreal eras, filled with political pressures and changes in corporate control, as well as the surprise exit of her predecessor.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Global oil prices have surged as Iran tightens its grip on the Strait of Hormuz and attacks regional energy infrastructure, pushing Brent crude to around $107 a barrel, more than 45 percent higher than before the war began.—
Sam Stevenson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Elevated cortisol further disrupts the hormones already in flux, and the cycle tightens over time.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But Harbaugh’s plan to build better habits through harder and intentional late practice situations and stresses will serve the Giants well.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Much of this shift is attributed to outside stresses like geopolitical issues and the rise of AI technology.—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Another is expected to take shape in Councilmember Rick Jennings’ district, which stretches from Land Park to the Pocket.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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Graves’ exit has sparked intense speculation about his potential successor to represent Missouri’s 6th Congressional District, which stretches across northern Missouri and touches Kansas City’s Northland.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Yet alongside that resolve, structural failures and political priorities are compounding strains between the Israeli government and the locals.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
-
At least for now, Bath’s example illustrates the possibilities in terms of both promise and avenues for development—by emulating nature (selecting hardy strains of Bacillus) and pharmaceutical engineering (capsule technology), civil engineers are rethinking concrete from the inside out.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Lawmakers reject a bill that ties students’ attendance to driver’s licenses.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
3 Apr. 2026
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Air India is preparing to roll out a policy that ties cabin crew eligibility to Body Mass Index (BMI) standards — a policy that's generating controversy and comment.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 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
Verb
-
From the prohibition against representation that binds the globe in images.—
Timmy Straw,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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The fun of watching Survivor is seeing contestants wriggle out of seemingly impossible binds through social skills, but when that becomes impossible, the show renders itself only frustrating.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tensions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tensions. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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