1
: a rope or wire stretched taut for acrobats to perform on
2
: a dangerously precarious situation
—usually used in the phrase walk a tightrope
Examples of tightrope in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a film that nimbly walks the tightrope between lightheartedness and weightlessness, Jerry and Mabel’s antagonistic relationship ends up proving the unexpected core of the story.
—
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2026
That’s the tightrope Jordi Fernández has walked as the Nets push through the final stretch of a season that has gone sideways in the standings, even as the organization stays committed to a development plan built for patience.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2026
Rodríguez walking a tightrope For Venezuela’s interim leader, the Cuban question is fraught with political risk.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Along with the rampant graffiti, the towers also became a frequent spot for social media stunts like base jumping from the roof of the tallest tower, which is 49 floors high, and tightrope walking between two of the towers.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tightrope
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Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2026
That’s the tightrope Jordi Fernández has walked as the Nets push through the final stretch of a season that has gone sideways in the standings, even as the organization stays committed to a development plan built for patience.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2026
Rodríguez walking a tightrope For Venezuela’s interim leader, the Cuban question is fraught with political risk.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Along with the rampant graffiti, the towers also became a frequent spot for social media stunts like base jumping from the roof of the tallest tower, which is 49 floors high, and tightrope walking between two of the towers.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tightrope
Cite this Entry
“Tightrope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tightrope. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tightrope
noun
tight·rope
-ˌrōp 
: a rope or wire stretched tight for acrobats to perform on
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