tense

tense

adjective

Definition of TENSE

1

feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <was tense about the upcoming bar exam>

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), tense, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, upset, uptight, worried

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

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

2

marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <a tense relationship existed between the two teachers>

Synonyms agitating, anxious, creepy, disquieting, distressful, distressing, disturbing, fraught, hairy, nail-biting, nerve-racking (or nerve-wracking), restless, tense, uneasy, unnerving, unsettling, worrisome

Related Words bothersome, troublesome; foreboding, misgiving; discouraging, disheartening, strained; restive, restless, unrestful; awkward, embarrassing

Near Antonyms restful; pacific

Antonyms calming, comfortable, easy, peaceful, quiet, quieting, tranquil

3

stretched with little or no give <a tense rope>

Synonyms rigid, tense, tight

Related Words firm, inflexible, stiff, tightened, unrelaxed, unyielding

Near Antonyms drooping, droopy, flaccid, floppy, hanging, lank, limp, loosened, relaxed, sagging, slackened, yielding; elastic, flexible, pliant, resilient, springy, stretchy, supple

Antonyms lax, loose, slack