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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tension
Mark Rozzo, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026
If tension rises, take a breath and reset the pace so results stay steady.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 12 June 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
Hockney’s own work may have had its touches of anxiety and tension, but humor, wit, resplendent color, a touch of unapologetic sentimentality, even beauty—these facets took precedence.
—Mark Rozzo, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026
If tension rises, take a breath and reset the pace so results stay steady.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026
Verb
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below 13 Perfectly Nice Neighbors
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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While the Patriots could have caved to the pressure, Cash said the group was ready to adjust.—
Jack Murray,
Boston Herald,
11 June 2026
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The knockout stage is where the stakes get higher and the pressure becomes stifling.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
11 June 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 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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Measures to help reduce stress Yasunaga said the 70 million yen (approximately $437,000) project consists of four repairs, of which one is the installation of an air conditioner.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
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Meal timing and the gut In the new research, the authors defined chronic physiological stress by participants’ composite allostatic load score — which involves eight cardiovascular, metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
Verb
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The morning of June 6, Mellor was back at Boston Logan airport for another trip to Havana, at a time when the United States is trying to tighten economic strings to choke Cuba’s government into change, and the country faces a deepening humanitarian catastrophe.—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
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The law aimed to tighten pretrial release programs and secure public safety after a man stabbed Zarutska to death, unprovoked.—
Julia Coin
June 6,
Charlotte Observer,
6 June 2026
Noun
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But behind those struggles lies a system under strain, where staffing shortages, thin provider margins, low worker pay and rapid regional growth have created pressure at nearly every level.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
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Several other strains of the bacteria exist and can infect other host plants, including citrus, stone fruits, almonds, oleander and some shade trees, according to the California Pierce’s Disease Control Program.—
Seamus Bozeman
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tension. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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