TIGHTENED Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

tightened 1 of 2

adjective

as in inflexible

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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

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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 tightened

Verb

In two days, close to 60,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, more than 50 people dying in the attempt, and within hours France had tightened its border with Spain and Italy had suspended Schengen. — Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Polls that had initially forecast a landslide victory for Janša tightened quickly in the run-up to election day. — Tyler Speicher, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026 The 1939 film was tightened and retooled by a team from Google DeepMind and other tech, film and live event specialists. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 30 July 2026 Border controls tightened in advance of the 1976 Montreal Olympics, then again after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 29 July 2026 Iranian officials publicly executed two men accused of participating in sweeping anti-regime demonstrations earlier this year, human rights officials say, as Tehran tightened its noose on dissidents. — Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 28 July 2026 In a surprise move, the MAS on Monday tightened its monetary policy. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 July 2026 Over the past year, Saudi Arabia has tightened its control over the anti-Houthi bloc by forcing the United Arab Emirates to abandon its role in the conflict. — David Brennan, ABC News, 23 July 2026 This was a bittersweet day for a team that had tightened its grip on second, but lost one of its podium contenders. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tightened

Adjective

As a result, growing businesses often remain connected to inflexible partners that drive up overhead and offer very little operational visibility.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 July 2026
The all-purpose Nvidia GPUs cost quite a bit more than the single-purpose, inflexible ASICs, with Google and its TPU being a famous example.

— Todd Gordon, CNBC, 22 July 2026

Definition of inflexible

Verb

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
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

Definition of tensed

Adjective

The brand’s signature Cell Service complex of growth factors and peptides essentially boosts skin’s collagen and elastin production, while promoting firmer, bouncier skin.

— Audrey Noble, Vogue, 27 July 2026
Researchers still need to replicate findings related to birding’s health benefits before drawing firm conclusions, and other research questions remain.

— The Conversation, Fortune, 27 July 2026

Definition of firm

Verb

Meanwhile, Roten and her husband are stretched thin, putting renovations of what was supposed to be a starter home on hold.

— Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
Howe redesigned the retreat for clients who bought it as a temporary escape while renovations to their Berkshire home stretched on far longer than expected.

— Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of stretched

Adjective

As each day passed, Safir grew stronger and stronger, meeting every new challenge with an unyielding resistance.

— Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
Despite its simple premise, Raimi’s eccentric, expressive filmmaking style, combined with the film’s unyielding, cacophonous splatter horror, made The Evil Dead instantly notorious.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 10 July 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

Similarly, relying on a single, rigid path for payments is no longer enough, and alternative routes must be available.

— Moshe Kimhi, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
The ferry, Edghill said, was fitted with 250 life jackets, two rigid life rafts and six inflatable life rafts.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026

Definition of rigid

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“Tightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tightened. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of tightened

adjective

verb

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