as in tightening
to draw tight
he tautened the rope and then tied it off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tautening
Verb
-
American Airlines is tightening battery rules, requiring chargers to stay visible and accessible during flights.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026 -
Other interventions, like non-surgical or surgical skin tightening procedures, can be helpful complements, too.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Limited rib mobility interferes with the ability to breathe deeply, triggering your body’s stress response, which increases muscle tensing as a guarding mechanism.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Keeping in the same position for a long period of time, especially if cramped or uncomfortable, can also lead to muscles tensing up and feeling tight.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
26 Dec. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Tautening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tautening. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
