Thesaurus

tense

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of tense

1 feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty

was tense about the upcoming bar exam

Synonyms of tense

aflutter, antsy, anxious, atwitter, dithery, edgy, goosey, het up, hinky [slang], hung up, ill at ease, insecure, jittery, jumpy, nervous, nervy, perturbed, queasy (also queazy), troubled, uneasy, unquiet, upset, uptight, worried

Words Related to tense

aggrieved, bothered, concerned, disquieted, distraught, distressed, disturbed, freaked, freaked-out, shook-up

apprehensive, foreboding, hesitant, misgiving

fretful, fretting, stewing, vexed

qualmish, qualmy

flustered, twittered, undone, unnerved, unstrung

obsessed, preoccupied, restless

fidgety, flighty, fluttery, high-strung, hypertense, skittish, spooky

Phrases Synonymous with tense

keyed up, on edge, on pins and needles, on tenterhooks

Near Antonyms of tense

confident, self-assured, self-confident, sure

controlled, self-controlled

Antonyms of tense

calm, collected, cool, easy, happy-go-lucky, nerveless, relaxed

2 marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings

a tense relationship existed between the two teachers

Synonyms of tense

agitating, anxious, creepy, disquieting, distressful, distressing, disturbing, fraught, hairy, nail-biting, nerve-racking (or nerve-wracking), nervous, restless, uneasy, unnerving, unsettling, worrisome

Words Related to tense

bothersome, troublesome

foreboding, misgiving

discouraging, disheartening, strained

restive, restless, unrestful

awkward, embarrassing

Near Antonyms of tense

restful

pacific

Antonyms of tense

calming, comfortable, easy, peaceful, quiet, quieting, tranquil

3 stretched with little or no give

a tense rope

Synonyms of tense

rigid, taut, tight

Words Related to tense

firm, inflexible, stiff, tightened, unrelaxed, unyielding

Near Antonyms of tense

drooping, droopy, flaccid, floppy, hanging, lank, limp, loosened, relaxed, sagging, slackened, yielding

elastic, flexible, pliant, resilient, springy, stretchy, supple

Antonyms of tense

lax, loose, slack

tense

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of tense

to draw tight

he tensed his muscles and attempted to lift the heavy appliance onto the truck

Synonyms of tense

strain, stretch, tauten, tighten

Words Related to tense

elongate, extend, lengthen

cinch, constrict

Near Antonyms of tense

ease, relax

Antonyms of tense

loosen, slack, slacken

Learn More about tense

See words that rhyme with tense Dictionary: Definition of tense Medical Dictionary: Definition of tense Spanish Central: Translation of tense Nglish: Translation of tense for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tense for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tense

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Thesaurus

tense

Synonyms and Antonyms of tense

tense

Synonyms and Antonyms of tense

Learn More about tense

Seen and Heard

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