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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tension
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
26 June 2026
Ciba lets the competing atmospheres remain in tension.
—
Literary Hub,
26 June 2026
Katie Bowlby,
Country Living,
29 July 2023
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
See All Example Sentences for tension
Noun
Risks and uncertainties remain Despite the gradual reopening of the Strait, uncertainty remains as tensions could flare once more given the fragility of the interim agreement.
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Tiago Ventura,
Time,
26 June 2026
Ciba lets the competing atmospheres remain in tension.
—
Literary Hub,
26 June 2026
Verb
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below 13 Perfectly Nice Neighbors
Salma, a Bangladeshi woman, moves to a new neighborhood with her family, and immediately tensions with their neighbors run high after a woman is caught vandalizing their anti-racist flag.
—
Katie Bowlby,
Country Living,
29 July 2023
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
See All Example Sentences for tension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tension
Noun
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For example, a robot needs to comprehend the different levels of pressure that are required while holding an egg versus holding a bottle of water.
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South Africa is piling on the pressure, but Kim Seung-gyu is keeping his goal clean.
Verb
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Ewing has recognized his shoulders tensing and his upper body going stiff.
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Be a good child, do what they’re told, be the best child, a tremble in their hands, say nothing, tensed for the knock on the door.
Noun
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If stress builds, schedule a short stretch break and set softer deadlines where possible, because kindness to your body supports reliable output.
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Always packing a portable charger is key to ensuring a stress-free travel day, which flight attendants can’t recommend more.
Verb
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Vucic has gradually tightened his grip on power since his populist party took over the Serbian government 14 years ago.
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The roots of this position lie in the energy crisis of the 1970s, which prompted most of Europe to tighten its codes so that buildings would be more efficient.
Noun
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The system has long been mired in controversy, including exam paper leaks and technical failures, placing a crushing burden on students, and financial strain on families investing everything in their children for a promise that can often appear fragile.
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Thanks in part to Bericoto’s throw, Tyler Mahle turned in one of his best outings of the season after missing three weeks due to a left hamstring strain, tossing 5 2/3 shutout innings with four strikeouts to two walks.
Cite this Entry
“Tension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tension. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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