as in tensing
to draw tight
tighten the straps on the backpack so that the load doesn't shift while hiking
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Recent Examples of tightening
They are favored to win the governor’s races in Virginia and New Jersey, though the former appears to be tightening.
—
W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
The tightening polls also came after Cornyn leaned into the Texas redistricting fight, garnering attention for calling on the FBI to help bring back Democrats who had fled the state in protest against efforts to redraw the maps.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 12 Sep. 2025
With growing demand for the drugs, more companies are tightening eligibility requirements and beginning to explore more affordable ways to provide access for their employees, including the cash-pay market.
—Bertha Coombs, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
And the current federal government has sought to loosen the reins on big tech companies, rather than tightening them.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Investors are betting the political hiatus alone will delay the BOJ's monetary policy tightening plans.
—Kaori Kaneko, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
David McClendon, a senior partner and consultant at January Advisors, said that medical debt cases are likely going up because hospital budgets are tightening, and because patients are no longer receiving pandemic stimulus payments that kept many of them afloat and out of debt in recent years.
—Molly Castle Work, Twin Cities, 8 Sep. 2025
Texas lawmakers left Austin late Wednesday night without passing a THC ban or tightening restrictions on the booming industry.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2025
As younger generations struggle to buy their first homes, boomers are accumulating wealth and tightening their grip on assets that millennials and Gen Z need to get richer.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
The tightening polls also came after Cornyn leaned into the Texas redistricting fight, garnering attention for calling on the FBI to help bring back Democrats who had fled the state in protest against efforts to redraw the maps.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 12 Sep. 2025
With growing demand for the drugs, more companies are tightening eligibility requirements and beginning to explore more affordable ways to provide access for their employees, including the cash-pay market.
—Bertha Coombs, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
And the current federal government has sought to loosen the reins on big tech companies, rather than tightening them.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Investors are betting the political hiatus alone will delay the BOJ's monetary policy tightening plans.
—Kaori Kaneko, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
David McClendon, a senior partner and consultant at January Advisors, said that medical debt cases are likely going up because hospital budgets are tightening, and because patients are no longer receiving pandemic stimulus payments that kept many of them afloat and out of debt in recent years.
—Molly Castle Work, Twin Cities, 8 Sep. 2025
Texas lawmakers left Austin late Wednesday night without passing a THC ban or tightening restrictions on the booming industry.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2025
As younger generations struggle to buy their first homes, boomers are accumulating wealth and tightening their grip on assets that millennials and Gen Z need to get richer.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tightening
Verb
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Seemingly immediately, your heart will begin racing and your muscles will start tensing.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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Sport mode is where things get serious, tensing the car’s muscles and unleashing the entire prairie of horses.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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When tested, the team found that the new material is extremely stretchy, able to safely handle ~4600% strain (like stretching 1 cm of gel to 46 cm without breaking).—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
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The Grand Teton Pathway passes through the park, stretching from Jackson to Antelope Flats Road.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tightening. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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