TIGHTENED Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

tightened 1 of 2

adjective

as in inflexible

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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

Where Jović tightened as the match went on, after the energy of claiming an up-and-down first set, Pegula relaxed and trusted her game. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 5 July 2026 Commissioning budgets have tightened, development cycles have lengthened and the opportunities for growing indies to scale have become increasingly limited. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 2 July 2026 Plus, the straps can be tightened or loosened to your liking. — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 Among other changes, the deal tightened rules for the auto industry, requiring that 75% of each vehicle be produced in North America to avoid any import duties. — Aaron Navarro, CBS News, 1 July 2026 The administration tightened the programs' restrictions and slowed processing rates, which advocacy groups say will hurt legitimate victims. — ABC News, 29 June 2026 The administration tightened the programs’ restrictions and slowed processing rates, which advocacy groups say will hurt legitimate victims. — Jack Brook, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026 Interest rates rose, supply chains tightened, equipment costs increased, and project economics deteriorated. — Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026 In 2024, the legislature tightened the state’s lemon law, requiring additional steps before a driver could sue. — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tightened

Adjective

The management was also inflexible on issues with temporary contracts, See/Saw notes.

— Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026
Humor, speed and authenticity consistently outperform expensive but inflexible creative campaigns.

— Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of inflexible

Verb

Be a good child, do what they’re told, be the best child, a tremble in their hands, say nothing, tensed for the knock on the door.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
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

Definition of tensed

Adjective

Since founding high-end home staging firm Interior Marketing Group (IMG) in 2007, Cheryl Eisen has helped market billions of dollars in residential properties while creating sophisticated interiors that resonate with buyers and homeowners alike.

— AD PRO, Architectural Digest, 13 July 2026
Equally noteworthy, but far less known, is the resort’s firm policy on how to handle guests behaving badly.

— Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026

Definition of firm

Verb

Stars including Reese Witherspoon, Emma Stone and Paul Rudd were seen departing the venue after the festivities began Friday evening and stretched until the early hours of Saturday morning.

— Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
Brazil were energetic and vertical, Vinicius Junior and Rayan stretched their opponents and Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time winner was just reward.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of stretched

Adjective

The things museums collect are often obstinate and unyielding; research and context can be a way of coaxing them to speak.

— Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 26 June 2026
While investigators remain unyielding, no charges have been filed against Terri or anyone else in the case, nor has anyone officially been named as a suspect in Kyron’s disappearance.

— Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 23 June 2026

Definition of unyielding

Adjective

For a woman who died in 1818, her face seems slightly too taut, her eyes slightly too wide, her skin slightly too bright.

— Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Bass is taut and clean, midrange clear and expressive, and treble crisp and extended for a high definition performance with all manner of music.

— Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of taut

Adjective

What this recent research on podcast discovery by Sounds Profitable / JAR Research punctuates is that the avenues of finding new podcasts aren’t formalized and rigid, but dependent on age, income, background, and lifestyle.

— Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Sometimes the eyes are the only thing that changes between spreads, a technique that is especially effective when the characters are rigid reptiles with a limited range of motion.

— Casey Cep, New Yorker, 7 July 2026

Definition of rigid

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tighten

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“Tightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tightened. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of tightened

adjective

verb

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