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 Wednesday’s sometimes-tense back and forth didn’t suggest any decisions would come easy. — A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2026

With fervent editing, careful scene geography, and assured direction, the walk before the run can be tense enough to send viewers crawling out of their seats, willing the fugitive onscreen to get a move on already. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 July 2026

Verb

Instead, he was intrigued by a scene in which Back visibly tensed up after the producers told him he was suspected of being Satoshi. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 9 Apr. 2026

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

Verb

Studios in collaboration with Banijay’s DLO Producciones, tracks the rise of the founding leader of Los Miami, a gang which controlled Madrid’s insatiable ‘90s drug business, tensed by sudden explosive violence, and the drug-lord’s multiple near-death experiences. — John Hopewell, Variety, 18 Dec. 2025

The officer took her to the ground and then tried cuffing Tejeras, who tensed up so much, the officer’s body camera was knocked to the ground, according to the report. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 26 Nov. 2025