Synonyms of tense

tense 1 of 3

adjective

ˈten(t)s 

1

as in worried

feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty

was tense about the upcoming bar exam

Synonyms & Similar Words

• worried
• nervous
• anxious
• upset
• uneasy
• troubled
• apprehensive
• uptight
• jittery
• jumpy
• hesitant
• concerned
• perturbed
• queasy
• disturbed
• bothered
• flustered
• nervy
• unquiet
• ill at ease
• insecure
• goosey
• edgy
• on pins and needles
• on edge
• antsy
• on tenterhooks
• dithery
• het up
• distraught
• restless
• preoccupied
• freaked
• hinky
• obsessed
• aflutter
• fretful
• aggrieved
• foreboding
• distressed
• atwitter
• disquieted
• vexed
• keyed up
• hung up
• shook-up
• fretting
• freaked-out
• fidgety
• unnerved
• high-strung
• unstrung
• misgiving
• undone
• fluttery
• spooky
• stewing
• qualmish
• qualmy
• skittish
• flighty
• hypertense
• twittered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calm
• easy
• relaxed
• collected
• cool
• nerveless
• sure
• confident
• controlled
• happy-go-lucky
• self-assured
• self-confident
• self-controlled

2

as in uneasy

marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings

a tense relationship existed between the two teachers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• uneasy
• disturbing
• anxious
• nervous
• unsettling
• restless
• fraught
• unnerving
• distressful
• creepy
• distressing
• worrisome
• disquieting
• agitating
• nail-biting
• strained
• nerve-racking
• hairy
• embarrassing
• awkward
• troublesome
• bothersome
• foreboding
• discouraging
• restive
• disheartening
• unrestful
• misgiving

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easy
• comfortable
• quiet
• peaceful
• tranquil
• calming
• restful
• quieting
• pacific

3

as in tight

stretched with little or no give

a tense rope

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tight
• taut
• tightened
• rigid
• stiff
• unrelaxed
• inflexible
• unyielding
• firm

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loose
• lax
• slack
• relaxed
• limp
• hanging
• flaccid
• floppy
• sagging
• loosened
• flexible
• elastic
• yielding
• lank
• droopy
• resilient
• supple
• pliant
• springy
• slackened
• drooping
• stretchy

tense

2 of 3

verb (1)

as in to tighten

to draw tight

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tighten
• stretch
• tauten
• strain
• elongate
• lengthen
• constrict
• extend
• cinch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loosen
• relax
• ease
• slacken
• slack

tensed

3 of 3

verb (2)

past tense of tense

as in tightened

to draw tight

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tightened
• stretched
• tautened
• strained
• lengthened
• elongated
• constricted
• extended
• cinched

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loosened
• relaxed
• slackened
• eased
• slacked

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tense

Adjective

But Chee’s first-person, present-tense narration differs from most in being, in a seeming paradox, retrospective. — Garth Greenwell, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026

Saada has threatened before to reduce the group’s investment during tense negotiations over windowing rules and Canal+ was granted an earlier access to movies after their theatrical run in exchange for its substantial investment obligations. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026

Verb

Ewing has recognized his shoulders tensing and his upper body going stiff. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 June 2026

Be a good child, do what they’re told, be the best child, a tremble in their hands, say nothing, tensed for the knock on the door. — Literary Hub, 17 June 2026

Verb

The slope down to the sidewalk was barely an inch high, but everyone tensed. — IEEE Spectrum, 1 Apr. 2026

Everyone in the barber shop flinched at the sound and tensed their shoulders. — Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026