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
Whether or not Byron’s actions will make that tightrope harder or easier to work remains to be seen.
—
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Nandy’s tightrope gets knottier given that, prior to her remarks, relations between the regulator and the network had in fact been thawing.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
Speaking to Fortune after the announcement, Zandi described the Fed’s messaging as tightrope-walking between economic risks—aiming to manage dangers to job growth while signaling no rush into further cuts.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
The Hill’s Brett Samuels reported on the tightrope that Bowser is trying to walk, with her power more limited than other Democrats who lead states.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tightrope
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Keith Phipps, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Nandy’s tightrope gets knottier given that, prior to her remarks, relations between the regulator and the network had in fact been thawing.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
Speaking to Fortune after the announcement, Zandi described the Fed’s messaging as tightrope-walking between economic risks—aiming to manage dangers to job growth while signaling no rush into further cuts.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
The Hill’s Brett Samuels reported on the tightrope that Bowser is trying to walk, with her power more limited than other Democrats who lead states.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 18 Sep. 2025
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 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tightrope
noun
tight·rope
-ˌrōp 
: a rope or wire stretched tight for acrobats to perform on
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