as in tensing
to draw tight
tighten the straps on the backpack so that the load doesn't shift while hiking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 tightening
Keep the handle away from your torso with slightly bent arms, and brace your core by gently tightening your abdominal muscles.
—
Jakob Roze, Health, 21 Oct. 2025
The streaming service is no longer offering investors quarterly subscriber updates, but Wall Street will be keen to hear how recent price hikes and the platform's growing advertising tier are faring — especially as businesses across all sectors grapple with consumers tightening their purse strings.
—Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
Polls have shown a tightening matchup, but Cuomo still trails Mamdani by double digits in a three-way race with Sliwa, an activist and talk show host, a distant third.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
The concerns prompted Roblox to invest heavily in protecting younger users on its platform by tightening messaging rules for children under 13, intensive content moderation and AI-powered monitoring.
—Reuters, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2025
Like many parts of that bill, its impact is only now becoming clear and the squeeze on employers is tightening as its implementation becomes reality.
—Paul Craney, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Such gaps between official indicators and ground reality reported by independent research erode trust, not only among workers but among buyers whose due diligence obligations are tightening under EU and national laws.
—Sourcing Journal, 15 Oct. 2025
In 2024, lawmakers also passed House Bill 10 requiring sheriffs to comply with ICE, further tightening state policy on local non-cooperation.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025
Under the shah’s secular rule, Iranians had been economically depressed and struggled against tightening social freedoms.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
Jakob Roze, Health, 21 Oct. 2025
The streaming service is no longer offering investors quarterly subscriber updates, but Wall Street will be keen to hear how recent price hikes and the platform's growing advertising tier are faring — especially as businesses across all sectors grapple with consumers tightening their purse strings.
—Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
Polls have shown a tightening matchup, but Cuomo still trails Mamdani by double digits in a three-way race with Sliwa, an activist and talk show host, a distant third.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
The concerns prompted Roblox to invest heavily in protecting younger users on its platform by tightening messaging rules for children under 13, intensive content moderation and AI-powered monitoring.
—Reuters, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2025
Like many parts of that bill, its impact is only now becoming clear and the squeeze on employers is tightening as its implementation becomes reality.
—Paul Craney, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Such gaps between official indicators and ground reality reported by independent research erode trust, not only among workers but among buyers whose due diligence obligations are tightening under EU and national laws.
—Sourcing Journal, 15 Oct. 2025
In 2024, lawmakers also passed House Bill 10 requiring sheriffs to comply with ICE, further tightening state policy on local non-cooperation.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025
Under the shah’s secular rule, Iranians had been economically depressed and struggled against tightening social freedoms.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tightening
Verb
-
Keep tensing and releasing muscles of the chest, abdomen, pelvis, legs, feet, and toes.—
Carley Millhone,
Health,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Seemingly immediately, your heart will begin racing and your muscles will start tensing.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
By the end of the game, hundreds of shirtless brethren had joined in on the revelry, stretching across four sections and making headlines.—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
-
At the absolute minimum, Prince Andrew and others in Epstein’s orbit showed a pathological incuriosity about the young girls who surrounded him—and that is stretching good faith to its very limit.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tightening. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share