as in pressures
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 tensions
JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
The Utah incident showed how counter protesters, too, can elevate tensions.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
But trade tensions have reignited, with Trump threatening to impose tariffs starting at 130% on Chinese exports by November 1, up from the 30% minimum rate currently in effect.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent clashes killed dozens and wounded hundreds, marking a dangerous escalation in cross-border tensions.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
In recent years, companies have repeatedly felt the painful impact of these geopolitical tensions.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
So, Harrison issued a proclamation to make the anniversary a national holiday as a means to placate tensions.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Oct. 2025
In an apparent thawing of political tensions, however, Chinese tech giant Alibaba on Thursday announced a multi-year partnership with the NBA to provide artificial intelligence and cloud services in China.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
But concomitant with this were tensions around the concept of localism, an ethos with its roots in the conditions and convictions of the earliest settlers.
—JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
The Utah incident showed how counter protesters, too, can elevate tensions.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
But trade tensions have reignited, with Trump threatening to impose tariffs starting at 130% on Chinese exports by November 1, up from the 30% minimum rate currently in effect.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent clashes killed dozens and wounded hundreds, marking a dangerous escalation in cross-border tensions.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
In recent years, companies have repeatedly felt the painful impact of these geopolitical tensions.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
So, Harrison issued a proclamation to make the anniversary a national holiday as a means to placate tensions.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Oct. 2025
In an apparent thawing of political tensions, however, Chinese tech giant Alibaba on Thursday announced a multi-year partnership with the NBA to provide artificial intelligence and cloud services in China.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tensions
Noun
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Tennessee’s offensive line has allowed a combined 82 pressures, 46 hurries, and 15 QB hits through six games, per Pro Football Focus.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
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With these pressures in mind, Rhodes turned to a state program to retire and restore more than 30 acres of older bogs.—
Chelsea Torres,
FOXNews.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The bill tightens those requirements, requiring proof of work or education in most instances, tightens eligibility requirements and reduces federal spending.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
15 Oct. 2025
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Alzheimer’s disease drugs Caffeine constricts blood vessels and tightens the blood-brain barrier, potentially limiting how much Alzheimer’s medication reaches the brain and reducing its therapeutic benefit.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These archival treasures unfold the complex lives of the partners, who wrote and rehearsed at home, and lay bare the stresses that all four endured because there was no boundary between performance and reality.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
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Prince William, who was an air ambulance pilot, frequently highlights the strains and stresses of working on the frontline of emergency services — and the mental health support that those teams need.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The cups are made using a special Flexicup fabric that stretches with you, and one-of-a-kind Floataway Wire is wrapped in airflow mesh that stays put with zero digging.—
Ali Faccenda,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
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That will be tested further than ever this season as their European journey stretches their squad.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Prince William, who was an air ambulance pilot, frequently highlights the strains and stresses of working on the frontline of emergency services — and the mental health support that those teams need.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
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The American whiskey industry is on the rocks, with anti-tariff backlash hurting exports and exacerbating the strains of a years-long slump in domestic demand.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The rapid proliferation and growth of spot ETFs like those for bitcoin and ether – as well as the potential for dozens more once regulatory operations resume at full capacity – also ties into another important change.—
Sean Stein Smith,
Forbes.com,
18 Oct. 2025
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Nothing ties together a travel outfit quite like a crisp pair of leather sneakers.—
Emily Belfiore,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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On the smallest scales, the strong nuclear force binds quarks into bound structures, three-at-a-time, known as baryons.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Oct. 2025
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The drug binds to a particular protein on immune system cells called T cells and reduces their ability to attack the body’s beta cells.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tensions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tensions. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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