tightened 1 of 2

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tightened

2 of 2

adjective

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
Adjective
Camp Pendleton has tightened access to the sprawling Marine base in North County in the wake of the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans that killed 14 people. Gary Robbins, The Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2025 But the Pole tightened when on the front foot in two baseline exchanges, moving forward at the wrong time and letting Fritz move out in front. James Hansen, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025 The Biden administration tightened those restrictions in October 2023 and once again in December 2024. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 3 Jan. 2025 State Farm General, Farmers, Allstate and other companies have all declined to write or limited new policies, or tightened their underwriting standards. Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2025 The automobile manufacturer said in the NHTSA recall report that the front upper control arm ball joint nut may not be tightened properly. Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 30 Dec. 2024 Department officials have tightened their camera policy, and raised the possibility of using AI to review the countless hours of footage that goes unseen each month. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2024 The Commanders tightened their defensive alignment after Hurts exited the game. Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024 The defense tightened when Walker replaced David Long as the starting inside linebacker in November. Omar Kelly, Orlando Sentinel, 26 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tightened
Adjective
  • Disconnected systems, data silos and inflexible workflows hinder innovation.
    Cynthia Tee, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • Cuomo went on to claim that the party has lost its moderate center and is in the midst of being reshaped by louder and more inflexible factions.
    Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • Transportation between the center and affected areas will be provided every day until 2 p.m. Williamson County plans to open a center soon but does not yet have a firm date or location, said county spokesperson Nick Castillo.
    Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 22 July 2025
  • Choose a head of cabbage that feels firm and heavy for its size.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 July 2025
Adjective
  • Situated on Westgate Street, across the road from Cardiff Castle, the former FAW headquarters was described by many as stubbornly Victorian, dripping in an unyielding homage to the past.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 8 July 2025
  • Torn between her duty to protect her patients and her desperate need to find her husband Nick, (Colin Moss) and children, Nichole discovers an unyielding strength within herself to save not only her family but countless residents from the encroaching flames.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, beat cream and powdered sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 2 to 4 minutes.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 20 July 2025
  • While psoriasis causes symptoms like red, irritated skin, psoriatic arthritis is usually linked with signs like stiff, painful joints and swelling around the joints.
    Korin Miller, Flow Space, 18 July 2025
Adjective
  • Nicola, played like a taut violin string by Embeth Davidtz (who also directed and adapted this story from Alexandra Fuller’s memoir of the same name), sleeps cradling an assault rifle.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
  • Dragging the roll slider up and down made the R1T go from a relaxed, floppy feel to a taut, engaging turner.
    Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • Set within a military institution, the film continues his exploration of gender and power, aiming to expose and humanize rigid, oppressive systems through personal and emotional storytelling.
    Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 15 July 2025
  • Zara hadn’t become rigid overnight—her views on competence, control and value had been reinforced over decades.
    Diana Lowe, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • Kick your legs in small up-and-down fluttering motions while keeping your lower back flat and abs tight throughout.
    Jakob Roze, Health, 21 July 2025
  • But the party was especially focused on reforming public finance, calling for strict economy in expenditures and even tighter limits on taxation.
    Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tightened. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

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