as in to tighten
to draw tight he tautened the rope and then tied it off

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tauten From that queasiness comes bristly tension, tautening and deepening what otherwise seems a low-key, low-stakes character study, and eventually a sweet, conciliatory sliver of hope too. Guy Lodge, Variety, 18 Feb. 2023 Pimples pop, pupils dilate, tendons tauten, and breathing gets so shallow that people fall into respiratory acidosis. John Pearley Huffman, Car and Driver, 20 Apr. 2022 Those systems use hydraulics or electromagnetic fluids to soften or tauten the ride. Jack Stewart, WIRED, 9 Apr. 2018 BMW’s adaptive dampers stifle road imperfections and tauten the 5 Series for hard cornering. Miles Branman, Orange County Register, 26 Feb. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tauten
Verb
  • One set of local institutions that hasn’t had to tighten its belt this year?
    Mark Schneider, National Review, 12 May 2025
  • Unfortunately, tightening the hinge screws won't be enough to correct this problem.
    Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • Progressive relaxation: This relaxation practice involves tensing and relaxing each body part, usually working your way up from your feet to your face.
    Sanja Jelic, Verywell Health, 6 May 2025
  • Progressive Muscle Relaxation Progressive muscle relaxation involves slowly tensing and then relaxing different muscle groups in the body, one at a time.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 27 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tauten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tauten. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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