tension 1 of 2

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tension

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tension
Noun
However, so far, Trump has not acknowledged this tension. ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2025 Between the bottled beers and canapés, however, there was little sign of the brewing tensions behind the scenes. Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
The team will separate and individually tension each of the five sunshield layers, stretching them into their final shape. Julia Musto, Fox News, 2 Jan. 2022 Will tension between hawks and doves be the defining characteristic of Juntos going forward? Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 14 Nov. 2021 See All Example Sentences for tension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tension
Noun
  • The Trump Factor Cost-of-living pressures and concerns about Trump's volatile trade and other policies had been among the top issues on voters' minds, opinion polls showed.
    Kirsty Needham, USA Today, 4 May 2025
  • If the Caps’ defensive depth isn’t up to their regular-season levels, the pressure is on Logan Thompson to raise his game.
    The Athletic NHL, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Verb
  • Sigmon’s arms briefly tensed when he was shot, and the target was blasted off his chest.
    Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Moore briefly smiled, may have tensed her jaw and uttered one word to the person next to her, according to a lip-reader hired by the Daily Mail to decipher her reaction.
    Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The caregiver partner can feel a consistent stress to keep it together during that time, which can last decades.
    Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • Big producers like Jack Daniel’s are also feeling the stress, but the biggest challenges are hitting the little guys.
    David Remnick, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Trump referenced the designations during a rally in Michigan on Tuesday, praising them as key tools in his administration's efforts to combat gang violence and tighten border enforcement.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
  • But by early 2018, the rally stalled, as the European Central Bank (ECB) held off on rate hikes even as the Fed kept tightening.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • By monitoring competitive shifts, watching for consumer strain and adjusting in real time, retail teams strike the right balance between price and profitability—while staying aligned with customer expectations.
    Lauren Parker, Sourcing Journal, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Multinational corporations are feeling the strain as well.
    Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tension. Accessed 9 May. 2025.

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