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
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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
-
In the Pacific, a trough of low pressure a few hundred miles off the coast of southwestern Mexico has a high chance of forming in the next 48 hours.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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The budget pressures departments to have state employees return to their offices instead of working at home as many have done since the 2020 pandemic.—
Paul Egan,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
-
The agency later stated the animal was in good health, stress-free and receiving appropriate care from her handlers.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Following a detailed instruction booklet, families assemble the machine piece by piece—no glue required, since everything fits together with tiny rubber bands for a stress-free, mess-free experience.—
Emily Glover,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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Bader’s availability in question Harrison Bader was removed from Saturday’s game with a left hamstring strain, putting his availability for the rest of the series in question.—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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This common strain releases a toxin that can damage blood vessels in the intestines and kidneys, which can cause serious complications like kidney damage.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tension. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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