as in pressure
the burden on one's emotional or mental well-being created by demands on one's time
under a lot of tension right now about her decision not to go to college
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 tension
Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2022
The roof bars tension the whole tent nicely, pulling against the stakes, so there’s no slack in the walls and no sag in the roof.
—Bill Gifford, Outside Online, 26 July 2022
Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
Designed with the same pressure-relieving material found in its mattresses, the pillow adapts to the contours of your head and neck, easing tension and providing personalized support throughout the night.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tension
Noun
In a lengthy chat with host Stephen Colbert, the director and actress spoke about everything from firing Shia LaBeouf to tension with star Florence Pugh to whether Harry Styles actually spit on Chris Pine.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2022
The roof bars tension the whole tent nicely, pulling against the stakes, so there’s no slack in the walls and no sag in the roof.
—Bill Gifford, Outside Online, 26 July 2022
Verb
The assault also occurred during a time of heightened tension around the world.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
Designed with the same pressure-relieving material found in its mattresses, the pillow adapts to the contours of your head and neck, easing tension and providing personalized support throughout the night.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tension
Noun
-
Like any sector of tech, there’s pressure to innovate, of course.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The move follows mounting political pressure and marks a shift in how YouTube handles past bans tied to outdated policies.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This can lead your soft tissues to sag into those gaps, causing your muscles to tense up in compensation.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Keep tensing and releasing muscles of the chest, abdomen, pelvis, legs, feet, and toes.—
Carley Millhone,
Health,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
All the changes midlife brings about—menopause, empty nesting, changes in your professional and personal life—can indeed usher in a lot of fear, doubt and stress.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Leaf scorch on indoor plants is typically caused by drying drafts, high temperatures, incorrect light choices, or cold stress.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In recent weeks, the White House has moved to tighten the rules around the visa, including a $100,000 fee for new applications, while raising wage expectations and the skill levels immigrants should have.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The pants come with super-wide legs and an elastic drawstring waistband that can be loosened or tightened depending on your preference.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That’s not the best time to trot out endless relievers, putting strain on the pitching staff in the meat of a series.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
-
But it’s underpinned by careful management of the peso, which kept the lid on import prices – while storing up strains.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tension. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share