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
To stay in that state of unthinking presence was like walking a tightrope only to suddenly look down, panic, and come plunging back to Earth.
—
Michael Pollan, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
Courts may eventually resolve some of the power imbalance, but in the meantime, local police have a tightrope to walk.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
In November, the Indian government announced reforms, consolidating 29 separate labor laws into four comprehensive codes, walking a tightrope between balancing business interests and employee welfare.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2026
In this case that’s French high-wire artist Philippe Petit, who specialized in secretly installing tightropes in cities and performing circus-style stunts on them.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tightrope
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Michael Pollan, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
Courts may eventually resolve some of the power imbalance, but in the meantime, local police have a tightrope to walk.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
In November, the Indian government announced reforms, consolidating 29 separate labor laws into four comprehensive codes, walking a tightrope between balancing business interests and employee welfare.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2026
In this case that’s French high-wire artist Philippe Petit, who specialized in secretly installing tightropes in cities and performing circus-style stunts on them.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Jan. 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 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tightrope
noun
tight·rope
-ˌrōp 
: a rope or wire stretched tight for acrobats to perform on
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