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tense

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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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 tense
Adjective
The late drama escalates what had already been a tense showdown between the legislature and a swath of senior Democratic politicians and the tech industry. The Denver Post, Denver Post, 10 May 2025 The film is described as a tense and gritty story revolving around two brothers who pursue the American Dream—only to become entangled in a scheme that turns out to be too good to be true. Justin Kroll, Deadline, 9 May 2025
Verb
Once in a while, a steer will break loose, causing the presenters to tense up. Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Feb. 2025 Polished in its visuals but tensed from the get-go by a sinister electronic score, melding procedural and a shockingly incomprehensible reality, the suspense thriller builds as a potent mixture where the past also weighs heavily, in personal, historical and fantasy terms. John Hopewell, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tense
Adjective
  • However, the bull case for the current market environment is that investors are now less worried about a U.S. recession and are swapping out defensive bond positions in hopes of finding upside appreciation in the stock market.
    Jesse Pound, CNBC, 13 May 2025
  • Elsewhere in the episode, Torre reported that Belichick’s family members are among those who are worried about his relationship with Hudson, which was first made public last June.
    Sean Neumann, People.com, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • Today, hydrogen bombs have replaced atom bombs in most arsenals, creating a world of uneasy standoffs among nuclear foes.
    William J. Broad, New York Times, 19 May 2025
  • With the rage virus still raging, a group of survivors, including a husband and wife played by Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, lives in uneasy isolation on a fortified island — until one of them crosses the causeway into whatever’s left of the mainland.
    Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Construction budgets will also increase if tighter immigration policies result in labor shortages.
    Ted Reed, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
  • And don’t even think about trying to change clothes in a tight plane bathroom.
    Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • A little nervous at first, Harry does well calling the boat in.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 May 2025
  • The Trump administration became increasingly nervous at the prospect of a major war erupting in one of the most populous places on the planet.
    Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • Proponents have long invoked civil rights language to promote vouchers, a disturbing rhetorical choice given vouchers originated as a tool for southern white parents to avoid the Supreme Court's desegregation order in Brown v. Board of Education.
    Kevin Sabet, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
  • Actress Isabella Rossellini reflects on the film’s disturbing material and autobiographical elements while resisting reductive interpretations.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Almost 60 years later, with these two worlds living side by side, Creede is a taut microcosm of current national divisions.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 13 May 2025
  • Who would tap a director unproven on a feature level to direct a taut action thriller movie with a $150 million budget?
    Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • This productivity decline stems from several factors: Workplace morale deteriorates Remaining employees absorb additional responsibilities Teams become anxious about future job security When employees question whether their leaders truly value them, their enthusiasm and dedication suffer.
    Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
  • Nobel laureates, such as MIT’s Daron Acemoglu, are worried about its capacity to worsen income inequalities, and ordinary American workers are anxious about AI’s impact on jobs.
    Bhaskar Chakravorti, Harvard Business Review, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • One of the most unsettling moments at UFC 315 occurred when Bruno Silva left the Octagon after suffering a knockout loss to Marc-Andre Barriault on the early prelims of the fight card.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • His Emilio is the protagonist and, although all the characters are given a shot at Death, Jacobs as Emilio is the most unsettling.
    Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 15 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tense. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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