tightened 1 of 2

Definition of tightenednext

tightened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of tighten
as in tensed
to draw tight tighten the straps on the backpack so that the load doesn't shift while hiking

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 tightened
Verb
The rules were tightened in 2012, when the club constitution was changed to introduce the 20-year membership requirement and the budget guarantee backed by Spanish banks. Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026 The airline tightened its policy for plus-size customers in January, making the purchase of a second seat a requirement rather than a recommendation for guests who cannot sit safely in a single seat. Nathan Diller, USA Today, 29 May 2026 Washington has tightened controls on China’s advanced semiconductors, high-bandwidth memory, and chipmaking tools. Olivia White, Time, 29 May 2026 Margins tightened under price compression. Sara Payan, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2026 Desperate measures In recent years, China has tightened its grip on protests and political dissent, aided by sophisticated censorship and surveillance through facial recognition and other artificial intelligence tools. Yoonjung Seo, CNN Money, 27 May 2026 Following its first-quarter results, Dick’s tightened its 2026 guidance for comparable sales growth for both Dick’s and Foot Locker. Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 27 May 2026 Unlike traditional denim that fits one minute and not the next, these jeans have a stretchy elastic waistband with an adjustable drawstring that can easily be loosened after a big meal or tightened to ensure a secure fit. Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 23 May 2026 But airlines have tightened the rules considerably. Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tightened
Adjective
  • But lawmakers who chafed at being pushed around by the inflexible governor’s demands for the past eight years found their backbone just in time to do the wrong thing.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 May 2026
  • These dishes are powerful but also inflexible.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • Instead, he was intrigued by a scene in which Back visibly tensed up after the producers told him he was suspected of being Satoshi.
    Frank Landymore, Futurism, 9 Apr. 2026
  • The slope down to the sidewalk was barely an inch high, but everyone tensed.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • After days of criticism and nonstop social media debate, White addressed the incident Monday, opting to stand firm in her coaching style.
    Alejandro Avila, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
  • In total, 18% of ballots had been returned as of Monday, according to data from the firm Political Data.
    Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • After taking a 50-37 lead into halftime, the Fire stretched their advantage to 25 points in the third quarter.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
  • The exhibition traces the arc of a career that stretched across nearly seven decades and helped make participation, movement, and perception central concerns of contemporary art.
    Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 30 May 2026
Adjective
  • The union’s response was swift, predictable, and unyielding.
    Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
  • Today’s players are reminded of the labor battles their predecessors went through, and the resistance to any sort of salary limit is just as unyielding.
    Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • Too much straw made the mattress stiff; too little, and the mattress was uneven.
    Kevin Maurer, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026
  • View from within Warsh, then, can be expected to meet stiff challenges when the meeting convenes, albeit from a group known for its collegiality.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 5 June 2026
Adjective
  • The dry version is taut, floral and mineral, all apple and meadow flower over a saline core.
    Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
  • But on last week’s 60 Minutes interview, Nolan, a taut, cerebral presence on TV, failed somewhat to create excitement for his new film The Odyssey, its basic plot sounding vaguely reminiscent of a college extension class – one emblazoned by Imax.
    Peter Bart, Deadline, 22 May 2026
Adjective
  • But children and adults under age 65 are subject to periodic assessments of their eligibility and must adhere to the program’s rigid rules.
    Katie Savin, Fortune, 2 June 2026
  • O’Farrell’s inclination for narratives propelled by brutal coincidence and fatally poor timing tenders a Hardy-esque vision of the world, one that emphasizes the rigid, often cruel limits of an individual’s jurisdiction over the course of their life.
    Rachel Vorona Cote, Vulture, 2 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Tightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tightened. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.

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