TENSIONS Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

tensions 1 of 2

noun

plural of tension

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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tensions

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of tension

as in tightens

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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 tensions

Noun

Officers used tear gas as tensions flared sporadically in the neighborhood, with small groups of people trying to set bicycles and trash bins on fire. — Sylvie Corbet, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026 With tensions rising between Israel’s far-right ministers and Hamas, the arrangement had run its course, Qatar believed. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026 Hundreds of businesses were looted nationwide, and unrest continued Sunday in Paris, where police used tear gas as tensions flared around Place de la République. — Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 Like tensions in Poland between technology and the role of the Catholic Church. — Lissa Soep, Vox, 17 Oct. 2026 But there’s also plenty of acrimony and recrimination in the aftermath of the school board election and one final confrontation between King and Paul Martino at a roundtable that leaves little doubt that tensions are still simmering. — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 In 2020, tensions erupted into a civil war that in just two years left at least 100,000 people dead, with some estimates rising to more than half a million. — Siyanne Mekonnen, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026 Part of an ongoing conflict The incident highlights the increased tensions between the president and the news media. — David Folkenflik, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026 But aspects such as strong characters, emotional investment, aspirational and authentic journeys, contemporary tensions, real moral dilemmas and complex relationships are what keep you there. — Marta Balaga, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tensions

Noun

The bank still calls Nvidia the sector’s best risk-reward opportunity but warns that financing pressures, power shortages, and concentrated customers could threaten the buildout.

— Diane Brady, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
The proposals come as local governments face rising costs, budget pressures and cuts to federal safety net programs.

— Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of pressures

Verb

Bubbles pop when liquidity tightens, meaning higher rates or stiffer regulation make money harder to borrow, and private creditors grow less willing to lend at any rate.

— RUCHIR SHARMA, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026
Promotional pricing is likely as competition tightens, and new formats will deliver better per-serving value than the single-roll SKUs that defined the first wave.

— Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of tightens

Noun

But modern day stresses are replaced with real life stresses for the tribe, like finding water, staying warm, and protecting the herd—the family’s currency—from jackals and wild dogs.

— Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026
That’s a point De Los Angeles’ doctor at Sylvester stresses, too.

— Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of stresses

Verb

Not far from my home on the western shore of Lake Champlain lies the ore bed that in 1875 produced 10 percent of America’s iron ore; the #21 pit, once storied, stretches two hundred feet wide and three hundred feet deep.

— Bill McKibben, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026
Its border with Yemen stretches more than 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) through rugged desert areas.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of stretches

Noun

Those fiscal strains come as political volatility and social unrest raise doubts about the government’s ability to deliver measures aimed at stabilizing the public finances.

— Jenni Reid,Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
The first focuses on improving protein yields by optimizing gene sequences, introducing them into Spiber’s proprietary microbial strains and evaluating their performance.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of strains

Verb

Directed by the Spanish filmmaking duo Los Javis, the drama ties together three time periods to explore the history of gay male desire across nearly 100 years.

— Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
However, the app isn't anywhere near as in-depth as the latest Googlebook OS software, which seamlessly ties your computer to your Android phone and is available across five new laptops.

— James Peckham, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of ties

Verb

In an era of parasocial pop stardom, the radical honesty of Cyrus’ approach — her clear-eyed appraisal of the relationship that binds an idol and her audience — was kind of a thrill to behold.

— Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
A certain symmetry binds her career and the league – 15 years, half of the league’s existence.

— Ken Makin, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of binds

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tensions

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“Tensions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tensions. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of tensions

noun

verb

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