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
Larry Sand, Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
By 2017, her private life was unraveling amid family tensions, abusive coaching and hidden trauma.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 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
In October 2024, the union passed a resolution calling for the United States to stop providing weapons to Israel, heightening tensions between the union and Jewish organizations and teachers who oppose its anti-Israel advocacy.
—Larry Sand, Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
By 2017, her private life was unraveling amid family tensions, abusive coaching and hidden trauma.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 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
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To transmit more power, there are two ways – either a larger hose (thicker cables and higher current) or higher pressure (higher voltage).—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Feb. 2026
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Around the same time, Southwest’s management came under pressure following an activist takeover by Elliott Investment Management.—
Dallas Morning News,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Breezily elegant in execution and at times even Hitchcockian, The Girlfriend is a delicious thriller that tenses up with each new scene and revelation.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
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Keeping in the same position for a long period of time, especially if cramped or uncomfortable, can also lead to muscles tensing up and feeling tight.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
26 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Despite their winter-ready build, these booties are surprisingly lightweight, thanks to the ultralight medium-density midsole that reduces stress on your feet while still slipping seamlessly into your suitcase without sacrificing suitcase space.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Feb. 2026
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Coffee can reduce inflammation, blood pressure and oxidative stress (the last of which can lead to cell and tissue damage), thus helpfully impacting many of the physical signs of aging, Kao said.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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However, Zelenskyy, backed by European leaders and some members of Congress, has insisted that the sanctions regime against Russia must instead be tightened to starve the Russian war machine of revenue and Western technological components.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
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Austin Independent School District has tightened its rules for student protests, outlining new limits on staff involvement and clarifying law enforcement’s role when demonstrations move off campus.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This has disrupted standing deployment plans, scrambled ships to sail thousands of miles and put increasing strain on vessels and equipment that are already facing mounting maintenance issues.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
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And the Lakers had to play OKC with their own MVP candidate, Luka Doncic, sitting out for the second straight game with a left hamstring strain.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tension. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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