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
Ashish Valentine, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026
Delays in finalizing a deal between City Hall and the Olympics committee have heightened those tensions.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for tension
Noun
Cheng has called her trip a peace mission to show that dialogue is possible with Beijing to ease tensions.
—Ashish Valentine, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026
Delays in finalizing a deal between City Hall and the Olympics committee have heightened those tensions.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
See All Example Sentences for tension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tension
Noun
-
The test Wednesday was designed find out if helium was leaking into the oxygen lines of the isolated manifold, thus raising pressure as observed.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Bin Sulayem stepped down from his post as DP World’s chairman and chief executive in February this year, following immense pressure regarding his relationship with Epstein.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 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
-
The uneven ground forces the body to tense with every step.—
Abraham Nudelstejer,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
When attention spans are shortened, distractions multiply, and burnout rises across industries, the competitive edge comes from teams who can regulate stress, sustain focus and think creatively under pressure.—
Elan Gepner-Dales,
Rolling Stone,
6 Apr. 2026
-
One child has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, and feared retaliation from Busfield if the alleged abuse was disclosed, the complaint alleges.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Retinal ReSculpt Body Treatment dramatically lifts, firms, and tightens sagging, crepey skin and smooths the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
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While perennially popular countries such as Italy and Portugal are tightening immigration regulations, many other places still offer enticing options for relocation.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Military under severe strain The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) last month diverted a combat battalion from the northern border with Lebanon to the West Bank amid the wartime surge in settler violence.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
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But beneath that dominance, the conditions that have long sustained the region’s success — a steady influx of workers, accessible pathways into the economy and functioning public systems — are showing signs of strain.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tension. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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