TIGHTENED Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

tightened 1 of 2

adjective

as in inflexible

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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

There is often little room to question why the body tightened, why energy shifted or why an ordinary conversation created resistance. — J.k. Dickinson, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026 The gap between Riggs and fifth-place Giovanni Ruggiero tightened to 39 points. — Reid Spencer, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026 He’s enacted a vast legislative agenda, reached trade deals with key countries and tightened his grip across the federal government. — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026 German authorities tightened security measures, after the festival last year had to close temporarily due to overcrowding. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026 The European Central Bank has also recently tightened monetary policy, while the Bank of England this week held its benchmark interest rate but signalled possible hikes ahead. — September 18, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026 As the Nazi grip on the nation tightened, the family fled to Shanghai, where young Peter was taken with the vivid hues of a nearby Buddhist monastery and gained an appetite for American comics. — News Desk, Artforum, 17 Sep. 2026 Many of the Venezuelans here came after COVID hit, flying to the Mexican border before January 2022, when Mexico tightened travel restrictions for Venezuelans. — Elliot Spagat, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 Police officials told the City Council last week that the department had tightened data-sharing practices and was standardizing its auditing procedures following concerns raised by a local advocacy group. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tightened

Adjective

Their characters contended with sexism, inflexible schedules, unequal pay and the near impossibility of balancing work with responsibilities at home.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
Developers can observe these live metrics to understand how new software features behave under real-world conditions rather than relying on rigid, inflexible models.

— Miroslav Katsarov, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of inflexible

Verb

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
As that handover proceeds, the excitatory signal that keeps your muscles faintly tensed all day begins to withdraw, and muscle tone drops toward the near-paralysis of deep sleep.

— Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of tensed

Adjective

These Physix Gear Sport socks have a firm, medical-grade rating of 20 to 30 mmHg.

— Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2026
His no-fuss, family-run restaurant (a firm local favourite) has occupied two bright rooms near the bustling Pignasecca market since 1938.

— Nicky Swallow, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of firm

Adjective

His unyielding tongue-in-cheek career narrative touches on craftsmanship, luxury and nihilism.

— Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026
Wingard confirms that remnants of the organization are very much behind Onslaught’s more unyielding super-soldier program.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of unyielding

Adjective

Researchers mixed ice with cellulose nanocrystals, extremely small, stiff particles made from cellulose.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026
Use the correct amount of detergent, and avoid using more than is necessary to prevent product buildup that can cause odor and make the towels feel stiff.

— Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of stiff

Adjective

The back of the Torcal hints at last year’s EXP 15 Concept, while the Torcal’s prodigious output is alluded to through the taut and muscular haunches.

— Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2026
Ocean Rainforest said no whales got tangled in taut lines during a two-year demo project.

— Amy Taxin, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of taut

Adjective

Researchers have found that a hijacks brain circuit, which to drive increasingly rigid and repetitive behavior.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
The device straps on like a rigid vest, with bands securing the torso, waist, thighs, legs, and feet.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of rigid

Browse Nearby Words

tighten

tightened

tightening

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tightened. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of tightened

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

heterodox

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes