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
McBride scored 13 of her 18 points in the first quarter before the Dream defense tightened on her. Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 10 May 2026 Restrictions were partially eased in February before being tightened again after the US and Israel struck Iran on February 28. Tim Lister, CNN Money, 10 May 2026 His jaw tightened as beads of sweat gleamed on his forehead. Christopher Cann, USA Today, 10 May 2026 The government has methodically tightened internet censorship and established increasingly stringent controls over online activities, causing rumblings and rare public expressions of discontent. ABC News, 9 May 2026 He was protected by a large security detail during his appearance, as recent reports claim that the Kremlin has tightened its monitoring of Putin amid fears of assassination attempts and possible coup plots. Rebecca Schneid, Time, 9 May 2026 The hearings follow a report urging gun reform The massacre roiled Australia, where serious gun crime has been rare since controls were tightened after a mass shooting in Tasmania 30 years ago. Charlotte Graham-McLay, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026 The process continued for many rounds — discs grew, empty space shrank, the growth factor tightened — until the discs could no longer grow. Quanta Magazine, 4 May 2026 Jefferson, now working on the Declaration of Independence, nicely tightened that up. Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tightened
Adjective
  • But Larissa, a nurse always at the ready with syringe full of sedatives, is inflexible about Katie remaining at home.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Residents want credible expertise without enduring grueling commutes, inflexible scheduling, or slow referral loops.
    Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 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
  • Authorities did not give a firm timeline for revoking those orders, but did say that emergency water pickups will continue through that step.
    Paula Wethington, CBS News, 12 May 2026
  • The company’s growth across three markets reflects a model that scales without losing the responsiveness that defines the client experience at the firm level.
    Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • From the looming white-domed oven emerge the flakiest pies, feteer, built of gauzy layers of dough, pressed with ghee and stretched, then folded one inside another around your choice of filling.
    Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
  • The April 28 City Council meeting stretched into its eighth hour.
    Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • With unwavering resolve, Salvador musters an eclectic band of misfit street kids, led by the spirited Belén, to challenge the unyielding threads of destiny and protect Carmen from inevitable doom.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 12 May 2026
  • The term signifies an unyielding toughness, and decals featuring nails are affixed to batting helmets for players’ positive achievements.
    Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Common symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and an altered mental state.
    Sam Woodward, USA Today, 9 May 2026
  • Researchers also tested the device in gelatin models containing stiff spherical objects designed to mimic tumors hidden beneath tissue.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 May 2026
Adjective
  • Dombrowski decided to retain Thomson after a taut, four-game series defeat to the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers last October.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Shape dough into two taut balls.
    Emily Teel, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Its organic shape offers a bit more structure than the traditional beanbag, without feeling rigid, while the quality leather construction feels sophisticated and high-end.
    Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2026
  • Ana rinsed off the sponge, her shoulders rigid.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Tightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tightened. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

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