tense

²tense

adj

tens·ertens·est

Definition of TENSE

1

: stretched tight : made taut : rigid <tense muscles>

2

a : feeling or showing nervous tension <a tense smile> b : marked by strain or suspense <a tense thriller>

3

: produced with the muscles involved in a relatively tense state <the vowels \ē\ and \ü\ in contrast with the vowels \i\ and \u̇\ are tense>

— tense·ly adverb

— tense·ness noun

Examples of TENSE

1. She was feeling pretty tense.
2. Why are you so tense?
3. We sat quietly for a few tense moments.
4. It was a tense meeting.
5. My calf muscles are really tense.

Origin of TENSE

Latin tensus, from past participle of tendere to stretch — more at thin

First Known Use: 1668

Related to TENSE

Synonyms: aflutter, antsy, anxious, atwitter, dithery, edgy, goosey, het up, hinky [slang], hung up, ill at ease, insecure, jittery, jumpy, nervy, perturbed, queasy (also queazy), nervous, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, upset, uptight, worried

Antonyms: calm, collected, cool, easy, happy-go-lucky, nerveless, relaxed

Related Words: aggrieved, bothered, concerned, disquieted, distraught, distressed, disturbed, freaked, freaked-out, shook-up; apprehensive, foreboding, hesitant, misgiving; fretful, fretting, stewing, vexed; qualmish, qualmy; flustered, twittered, undone, unnerved, unstrung; obsessed, preoccupied, restless; fidgety, flighty, fluttery, high-strung, hypertense, skittish, spooky

Near Antonyms: confident, self-assured, self-confident, sure; controlled, self-controlled

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Rhymes with TENSE

fence, sense, whence