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Recent Examples of tightened
Matt Slater, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
That’s when something tightened, a brief, instinctual clam-closing and then loosening again just as fast.
—Dawn Lerman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
The greenery tightened, the road narrowed, and a block-long red wall emerged from the scrub, abrupt and unmistakable.
—Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
Industry groups say the move has tightened supplies for commercial users such as hotels and restaurants.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
The war has tightened global energy supplies, raising oil prices and injecting uncertainty into financial markets.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
The tension ramped up beginning in the middle of 2024, when the Biden administration tightened sanctions on the Venezuelan government and forced Caracas to rely more heavily on China, Russia, India, Turkey and other trading partners.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 17 Mar. 2026
Financing has tightened across the board, with more films chasing fewer buyers.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
The Wolves’ defense had tightened.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
Her report made numerous recommendations related to the planning of events at Wembley and security at the stadium, but also suggested that the legal framework to deal with tailgating should be significantly tightened.
—Matt Slater, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
That’s when something tightened, a brief, instinctual clam-closing and then loosening again just as fast.
—Dawn Lerman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
The greenery tightened, the road narrowed, and a block-long red wall emerged from the scrub, abrupt and unmistakable.
—Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
Industry groups say the move has tightened supplies for commercial users such as hotels and restaurants.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
The war has tightened global energy supplies, raising oil prices and injecting uncertainty into financial markets.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
The tension ramped up beginning in the middle of 2024, when the Biden administration tightened sanctions on the Venezuelan government and forced Caracas to rely more heavily on China, Russia, India, Turkey and other trading partners.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 17 Mar. 2026
Financing has tightened across the board, with more films chasing fewer buyers.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
The Wolves’ defense had tightened.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tightened
Adjective
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For working class voters with inflexible work schedules, limited transportation and scarce childcare, adding a document requirement is not a neutral inconvenience.—
Kica Matos,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2026
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The technique was inextricably bound to his worldview as a prober and philosopher uncommitted to absolute truth or inflexible morality; in Preminger’s world, there are always myriad perspectives that, if not equally valid, are equally considered.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Everyone in the barber shop flinched at the sound and tensed their shoulders.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
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Studios in collaboration with Banijay’s DLO Producciones, tracks the rise of the founding leader of Los Miami, a gang which controlled Madrid’s insatiable ‘90s drug business, tensed by sudden explosive violence, and the drug-lord’s multiple near-death experiences.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
18 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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With only one change allowed and a firm deadline in place, the decisions made now can have lasting financial and healthcare implications.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The firm partners with Kiavi on a Fix and Flip Housing Market Index, which looks at investor sentiment in the market.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Times of India found workers in Chirag Dilli, the city’s dumpling-making capital, so stretched for fuel that some had given up on steaming and had turned operations over to chow mein.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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In downtown Elgin, a crowd stretched from North Grove Avenue to Foundry Park on Route 31 and a similar event brought out hundreds gathered on Randall Road in South Elgin.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Yet the music industry can move at an unyielding clip, particularly when artists are rocketing to stardom like Young was.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
11 Mar. 2026
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The breath of air, and the freedom of movement, only reinforce the moral asphyxiation taking place inside—and emphasize the unyielding authority sustaining the city’s public life.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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These formulas strike the ideal balance of locking in lift without weighing lashes down or leaving behind a stiff, crunchy, or clumpy finish.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
28 Mar. 2026
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The institute is nonpartisan but has ties to the Republican Party, and concluded the state needs stiffer penalties for fentanyl possession and distribution, similar to Texas law.—
Kaitlin Coward,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Tom had to insure that my breast was pulled completely taut.—
Amanda Peet,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
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All around the skiff, pink river dolphins pop up for air, their taut blush bodies arcing briefly before vanishing with barely a splash.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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To address this, researchers combined PILs with a second, more rigid polymer to form block copolymers.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
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The capsule includes the brand’s signature stretch Chitch and rigid Maxx denim fits.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tightened. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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