tense 1 of 3

adjective

ˈten(t)s How to pronounce tense (audio)
Definition of tensenext
1
as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty was tense about the upcoming bar exam

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2
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings a tense relationship existed between the two teachers

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3
as in tight
stretched with little or no give a tense rope

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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

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tenses

3 of 3

verb (2)

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

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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 tense
Adjective
The suit includes a timeline of events and exchanges between Koya and Sterling that grew tense as time went on. — Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 26 Oct. 2026 Our review praised the terrific gunplay, tense matches, and incredible graphics. — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 26 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
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 See All Example Sentences for tense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tense
  1. worried
  2. uneasy
  3. tight
  4. tighten
  5. nervous
  6. disturbing
  7. taut
  8. anxious
Adjective
  • Maybe that sounds counterintuitive to folks worried about how the Bears are going to supply their roster with high-end talent in the next couple of years, and there will be a host of needs on defense alone.
    — Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Delawalla adds that many voters may also be worried about public health, particularly given the ongoing measles crisis and the summer’s cyclosporiasis outbreak.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of worried
Adjective
  • That uneasy feeling settles over the rest of Infinite Now like suffocating humidity.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Some support industrial policy but are uneasy about framing it principally around competition with China.
    — THOMAS WRIGHT, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of uneasy
Adjective
  • Opinion polls predict tight race Domestically, Vucic has pledged higher pensions and public sector salaries, investment in state healthcare and subsidies for young couples.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Both parties expect whoever wins in November to do so by a tight margin in a state of 738,000 people.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of tight
Verb
  • Debt costs rise With credit conditions tightening, Goldman analysts said higher interest costs are now starting to eat into company margins.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Your first instinct may be to tighten your grip, but flexibility could serve you better.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of tighten
Adjective
  • Meyers' thinking is that as the odds go up of a Democratic party win, investors are getting more nervous about parts of the artificial intelligence trade.
    — Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Later on, after the guests have left, this cheating convention makes Kaylee nervous.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of nervous
Adjective
  • One of the most disturbing reasons given was that the DOT will never install a speed reducer closer than a distance of 1,000 feet (nearly a quarter of a mile) from a speed camera.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Family members reported objects disappearing, beds lifting, unexplained odors, and other disturbing occurrences in the house.
    — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • Unlike straps, which work only when taut, struts are rigid and can resist forces pushing or pulling against the home.
    — Daniel Wolfe, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Director Robert Eggers delivers a taut, terrifying period piece with this tale of a 17th-century New England family expelled from their village and stalked by a witch — a movie that also put the then-fledgling studio A24 on the map.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of taut
Adjective
  • Rushing to your appointment, feeling anxious, or drinking caffeine can raise your blood pressure.
    — Brandi Jones, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Many in Iran are anxious about a possible return to all-out war.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of anxious

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Cite this Entry

“Tense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tense. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tense

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tense

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