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
Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Its opponents accuse it of fueling violence and tensions with its combative politics.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Geopolitical tensions kept uncertainty high.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Trade tensions between the United States and China have eased for now, but the technology race is accelerating.
—Jared Cohen, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
Maegan Ortiz, executive director of the Institute of Popular Education of Southern California, or IDEPSCA, cited the LAPD’s history of using excessive force against civilians and said that in the recent immigration raids, officers have sometimes inflamed instead of defused tensions.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Demand for cross-border relocation, residency planning and citizenship consultancy services is being driven by geopolitical tensions and sudden policy shifts, advisers who work with ultra-high-net-worth clients told CNBC.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
To do the job well, historical novelists must learn about the conventions of an era, the social and political tensions of the time even if these are only used to sketch out the background.
—Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
There have also reportedly been internal tensions at xAI over the pace of product development and technical demands amid intense competition.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
Alliances involve tensions and conflicts, inevitably, as officials regularly point out.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Its opponents accuse it of fueling violence and tensions with its combative politics.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Geopolitical tensions kept uncertainty high.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Trade tensions between the United States and China have eased for now, but the technology race is accelerating.
—Jared Cohen, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
Maegan Ortiz, executive director of the Institute of Popular Education of Southern California, or IDEPSCA, cited the LAPD’s history of using excessive force against civilians and said that in the recent immigration raids, officers have sometimes inflamed instead of defused tensions.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Demand for cross-border relocation, residency planning and citizenship consultancy services is being driven by geopolitical tensions and sudden policy shifts, advisers who work with ultra-high-net-worth clients told CNBC.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
To do the job well, historical novelists must learn about the conventions of an era, the social and political tensions of the time even if these are only used to sketch out the background.
—Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
There have also reportedly been internal tensions at xAI over the pace of product development and technical demands amid intense competition.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tensions
Noun
-
Chipotle’s 2025 was its worst year ever, with same-store sales falling for the first time since going public and shares plunging 37% amid economic pressures.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Whether prices continue to climb may depend on wholesale costs, supply chain pressures and global trade policies.—
Nakell Williams,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, anxiety washes over the rest of the country as the labor market tightens.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Today, control of Greenland’s natural resources is again on an American president’s radar as demand for critical minerals rises and supply tightens.—
Thomas Robertson,
Fortune,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
She’s spent the day helping freshmen learn essential skills and navigate the stresses of their first year of college.—
Tom Grimes,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
-
There are many other stresses that are taking up Hamlin’s time.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In the coming months, Raman will have to reach beyond her district, which stretches from Silver Lake to Reseda, introducing herself and her record to voters across the city.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
No suspects are in custody as the search for Nancy Guthrie stretches into its 15th day.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Kilgore leads his cavalry into air battle to the strains of Wagner, taking out combatants in between swigs of coffee.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
These included different regions of the genome across strains specific to arabica and robusta coffee.—
Lily Peck,
The Conversation,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Ratcliffe’s comments align with the arguments made by Britain’s right-wing populist Reform UK party, which ties its anti-immigrant message to protecting the country.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
12 Feb. 2026
-
House Bill 1002 also ties utility profits to performance metrics, including affordability and service restoration, and utilities will use a three-year rate plan.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
Verb
-
Selenium binds to protein, so protein-rich foods are usually high in this mineral.—
Carrie Madormo,
Verywell Health,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Tate is the connective tissue who binds all those parts together.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tensions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tensions. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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