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
Annika Pham, Variety, 22 May 2026
For nearly two minutes, Carlile and Doran add layer after layer, building tension until the loop becomes too top-heavy and finally buckles under the pressure.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 22 May 2026
Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 29 July 2023
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
See All Example Sentences for tension
Noun
The topic of filmmaking between industry and vision’ and the current tensions between creation, industry and authorship will be further expanded at ECAM Forum’s The State of Things conference strand organized by the industry arm of Madrid’s prestigious ECAM film school.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 22 May 2026
For nearly two minutes, Carlile and Doran add layer after layer, building tension until the loop becomes too top-heavy and finally buckles under the pressure.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 22 May 2026
Verb
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Salma, a Bangladeshi woman, moves to a new neighborhood with her family, and immediately tensions with their neighbors run high after a woman is caught vandalizing their anti-racist flag.
—Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 29 July 2023
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
See All Example Sentences for tension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tension
Noun
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Now, seemingly under pressure from the economic fallout from the war with Iran, Modi has framed ordinary consumer choices, such as buying less petrol and choosing work-from-home, as acts of patriotism.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
21 May 2026
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Now, the pitcher’s timing — and his attention — is at the mercy of the clock, and as those 18 seconds tick, pressure builds not on the runner, but on the pitcher, who becomes more predictable when working within such a limit.—
Chad Jennings,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Verb
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Instead, he was intrigued by a scene in which Back visibly tensed up after the producers told him he was suspected of being Satoshi.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
9 Apr. 2026
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The slope down to the sidewalk was barely an inch high, but everyone tensed.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The stress in the bond market is intensifying and showing few signs of abating.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
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And that was before the stress on arms began to take its toll league-wide.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Unlike traditional denim that fits one minute and not the next, these jeans have a stretchy elastic waistband with an adjustable drawstring that can easily be loosened after a big meal or tightened to ensure a secure fit.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
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Third, Ukrainian drone strikes are catalyzing profound morale issues within Russia itself, methodically shattering the illusion of domestic security cultivated by the Kremlin, as the Kremlin tightens its grip over society, including through the suspension of popular messaging apps such as Telegram.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
23 May 2026
Noun
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Trump has proposed a temporary suspension of the gas tax to help offset consumer strain.—
Brooke Migdon,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
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The Papa’s Tools Weed Puller Tool isn’t like other weeding tools you may be used to—it’s cleverly designed to minimize joint strain while effectively removing weeds deep in the ground.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tension. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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