tighten

verb

ˈtī-tᵊn How to pronounce tighten (audio)
Definition of tightennext
as in to tense
to draw tight tighten the straps on the backpack so that the load doesn't shift while hiking

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 tighten That sentiment is shifting somewhat amid rising rates and tightening monetary policy, with some investors becoming more cautious. — Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026 The instinctive management response is often to tighten spending and wait for conditions to improve. — Erik Clarke, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Since the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act, cars have generally gotten more fuel-efficient, while regulations on fuel economy have tightened. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2026 New California safety laws have tightened commercial rules after the Lineage fire in Boyle Heights. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tighten
  1. tense
  2. stretch
Verb
  • Even an Impractical Joker, after hundreds of public challenges and punishments designed to push the limits of embarrassment, could still tense up when a cellphone camera caught him experimenting with a new bit.
    — Antonio Ferme, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The women tensed when the deputy warden of the Rostov jail, a curt, imperious man with a heavy-footed gait, walked in.
    — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of tense
Verb
  • The move will put the mobile coastal weapon closer to Taiwan than during its previous deployment in Japan and comes as Washington and Tokyo expand their ability to operate in the islands stretching toward the Taiwan Strait.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The shoe takes visual cues from a tennis net stretched by impact into consideration, creating a design that feels fluid.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of stretch

Browse Nearby Words

tight
tighten
tightened
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tighten. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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