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
Jessica Booth, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
The tension between Preller and Bob Melvin was especially well-documented and, some believe, a significant factor in the team’s 2023 collapse.
—Brittany Ghiroli, New York Times, 29 Sep. 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
According to Northern Virginia Magazine, Friday night football games had been canceled in 1969 because of vandalism and racial tension.
—Jessica Booth, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
The tension between Preller and Bob Melvin was especially well-documented and, some believe, a significant factor in the team’s 2023 collapse.
—Brittany Ghiroli, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tension
Noun
-
Air pressure in the plane keeps them closed when the plane is cruising.—
Aaron Cooper,
CNN Money,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Blitzes aren’t getting home Through three games, the Dolphins have blitzed opposing quarterbacks more than any other team in the NFL, yet have the fewest amount of pressures.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Muscles get tensed and strained.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The muffled, percussive sounds of the firing range could be heard through the walls, and my body tensed with every pop.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And some new drinks are causing stress for baristas for being over complicated to make during peak times.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
25 Sep. 2025
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Heat and drought are bad combinations for trees, putting stress that could mute autumn colors.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And the race could tighten further if Sliwa exits the race.—
Amie Parnes,
The Hill,
1 Oct. 2025
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Previous polls had shown Spanberger ahead by wider margins, signaling a tightening race over the past month.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
If his injury is even a mild strain, Jackson could miss a few weeks.—
Hunter Simpson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
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But a strain of fundamentalist politics attached itself to Trump early in his first term, lending that administration a socially-conservative anti-media heft.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tension. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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