tenses

verb

present tense third-person singular of tense
as in tightens
to draw tight he tensed his muscles and attempted to lift the heavy appliance onto the truck

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tenses 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenses
tightens
Verb
  • There’s more of Zendaya’s ethereal glam to explore below, including a lip balm that adapts to your lips’ pH and an undereye cream that tightens and brightens.
    — Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
  • The four-in-one anti-aging serum hydrates, brightens, tightens, and plumps skin.
    — Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 12 July 2026
Definition of tightens

Browse Nearby Words

tenseness
tenses
tensing
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Cite this Entry

“Tenses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenses. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tenses

Nglish: Translation of tenses for Spanish Speakers

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