1
as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty
was tense about the upcoming bar exam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
a tense relationship existed between the two teachers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tight
stretched with little or no give
a tense rope
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tense
Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 8 May 2026
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ crunch-time budget talks turned tense Friday as board members questioned why it’s taken so long to get clarity on lingering questions.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2026
Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for tense
Adjective
Sabalenka’s Rome appearance came during a tense week for the sport.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 8 May 2026
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ crunch-time budget talks turned tense Friday as board members questioned why it’s taken so long to get clarity on lingering questions.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2026
Verb
Everyone in the barber shop flinched at the sound and tensed their shoulders.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for tense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tense
Adjective
-
Reformers were worried that putting more money into the hands of local school districts, without oversight to ensure that it was being spent effectively, would lead to its diversion into administration and more generous union contracts rather than hands-on instruction for kids who needed it most.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
-
Yu said that, as China has strengthened its social safety net, people are less worried about having to rely on others.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
There, migrant labor, economic need and repressed desire collide, especially through his uneasy bond with Arvydas, a Czech co-worker whose open homophobia masks darker tensions.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
11 May 2026
-
The landfill theory made some birding enthusiasts uneasy and prompted some authorities, locals and others to defend Ushuaia, a city of nearly 85,000 that draws tourists to its Antarctic cruise ships and abundant, watchworthy bird population.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
But as the season has progressed and the pressure has increased, their margins of victory have become tighter.—
Dean Jones,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
Cornyn’s legislation comes as the four-term senator is locked in a tight GOP primary contest against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
McBride scored 13 of her 18 points in the first quarter before the Dream defense tightened on her.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2026
-
The government has methodically tightened internet censorship and established increasingly stringent controls over online activities, causing rumblings and rare public expressions of discontent.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Altman seemed slightly nervous as the cross-examination got underway.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
-
Suddenly, and very publicly, Russian officials appeared nervous, afraid that their parade would be spoiled.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Fetish camboy Aaron Eagle (Kieron Moore) agrees to spend the night with an anonymous client, only to discover a disturbing tie to his past.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
10 May 2026
-
In the spring of 2018, federal prosecutors arrested both Raniere and Mack (along with four other individuals) and leveled disturbing accusations against the pair.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Dombrowski decided to retain Thomson after a taut, four-game series defeat to the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers last October.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Shape dough into two taut balls.—
Emily Teel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In Louisiana, nearly 180,000 early ballots for House races already cast won’t be counted under the redrawn districts, leaving voters like Sallie Davis anxious their votes won’t be tallied.—
John Hanna,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
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Viral genetics Researchers around the globe are also anxious to get the genomic data of the ANDV virus.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tense. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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