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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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.
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Instead, he was intrigued by a scene in which Back visibly tensed up after the producers told him he was suspected of being Satoshi.
Noun
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The water amplifies the vibrations, helping stress and negative thoughts disappear.
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Everyday activities such as walking, running or lifting weights place stress on the skeleton.
Verb
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Varsho tightened the score an inning later with his home run off Trent Thornton.
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The European Central Bank was the first major central bank to raise interest rates last week, its first tightening move in nearly three years.
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 28 Jun. 2026.
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