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
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Some lawyers in Texas have spoken out in criticism of a judge who was seen on video in a tense exchange with an IT worker, prompting an escalating, unusual and public feud.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 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
See All Example Sentences for tense
Adjective
On April 5, while transiting the bold and fiery sign of Aries, the sun will meet with Jupiter in Cancer, in a tense but enlightening square.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Some lawyers in Texas have spoken out in criticism of a judge who was seen on video in a tense exchange with an IT worker, prompting an escalating, unusual and public feud.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
Breezily elegant in execution and at times even Hitchcockian, The Girlfriend is a delicious thriller that tenses up with each new scene and revelation.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 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
See All Example Sentences for tense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tense
Adjective
-
Flock Safety has faced strong criticism, with many worried about the public's privacy and security moving forward.—
Heath Kalb,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Caroline never actually worried that Harry would cross a line with a patient.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Many of these stemmed from the uneasy coexistence of political parties with religion – which was newly protected by the First Amendment – and with the Catholic Church in particular.—
Derek Arnold,
The Conversation,
6 Apr. 2026
-
So the uneasy authorities decided that such impertinence must be silenced once and for all.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Within minutes of leaving town, the pavement twists downward through tight turns and steep grades as the mountain air begins to warm, the vegetation giving way to chaparral and scattered juniper, then to the stark silhouettes of ocotillo and Mojave yucca.—
Josh Jackson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Even amid tighter budgets, 70 percent of consumers still prioritize value, with campaigns that tap into sentiment, tradition and early engagement performing best.—
Andre Claudio,
Footwear News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Iran appeared to tighten its grip on the strait on Thursday, when its media reported that the government is drafting a protocol with Oman to monitor traffic.—
Arsalan Shahla,
Fortune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Luke Evangelista scored the only goal of the shootout in the eighth round, and the Nashville Predators tightened the Western Conference playoff race with a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Behind yet another standout performance from Elliot Cadeau, who was named the Final Four’s most outstanding player, the Wolverines weathered a UConn run in the first half that had the massive throng of maize-and-blue fans in Indianapolis feeling nervous.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
-
King had been nervous about the casting process.—
Angelina Mazza,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Drama stars Robert Pattinson and Zendaya as Charlie and Emma, a young couple whose lives and upcoming wedding are thrown into disarray when the latter drunkenly reveals a disturbing secret from her past.—
Mike Miller,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The details her 10-year-old daughter provided were disturbing for any parent to hear.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Heated Rivalry’s Connor Storrie just can’t outrun his famously taut backside.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
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Tom had to insure that my breast was pulled completely taut.—
Amanda Peet,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Although Amodei, who was leading the company’s safety team, had helped to pitch the deal to Bill Gates, many people on the team were anxious about it, fearing that Microsoft would insert provisions that overrode OpenAI’s ethical commitments.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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On the handful of occasions in each game between them when Jokic catches at the elbow and his teammates clear out, an anxious hush invariably falls over a buzzing arena.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tense. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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