tauten

verb

ˈtȯ-tᵊn How to pronounce tauten (audio)
Definition of tautennext
as in to tighten
to draw tight he tautened the rope and then tied it off

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tauten From that queasiness comes bristly tension, tautening and deepening what otherwise seems a low-key, low-stakes character study, and eventually a sweet, conciliatory sliver of hope too. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 18 Feb. 2023 Pimples pop, pupils dilate, tendons tauten, and breathing gets so shallow that people fall into respiratory acidosis. — John Pearley Huffman, Car and Driver, 20 Apr. 2022 Those systems use hydraulics or electromagnetic fluids to soften or tauten the ride. — Jack Stewart, WIRED, 9 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tauten
  1. tighten
  2. tense
Verb
  • Zimbabwe has tightened controls on lithium, Mozambique now requires more graphite to be processed domestically, and Gabon plans to halt raw manganese exports later this decade.
    — Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 17 July 2026
  • In 2018, the state tightened its magazine restrictions, lowering the legal capacity from 15 rounds to 10.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 17 July 2026
Definition of tighten
Verb
  • Singer-songwriter and guitarist Nick DiSalvo’s plaintive vocals and snaking riffs can gently suggest thoughtful indie rock or tense up to show off more doom-adjacent roots.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 July 2026
  • Ewing has recognized his shoulders tensing and his upper body going stiff.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 June 2026
Definition of tense

Browse Nearby Words

taut
tauten
tautened
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Cite this Entry

“Tauten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tauten. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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