TIGHTENING Synonyms: 14 Similar and Opposite Words

tightening

verb

present participle of tighten

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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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 The latest donation from the Citadel hedge fund founder comes as polls show the race between Donalds and Democratic candidate David Jolly tightening more than expected. — Luisa Yanez, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026 Given a strong economy and persistent inflation, a pause does not mean the end of the tightening cycle, according to Gareth Leather, senior Asia economist at Capital Economics. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 Price per 15-ounce can, where a spike signals supply tightening from Illinois producers 3. — Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026 The tightening pressure gradient between these systems will produce a prolonged period of northeast winds, pushing water toward the beaches and into the back bays. — Grant Gilmore, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Related Articles Her toolkit included Oligio monopolar radiofrequency for tightening and refining texture, InMode bipolar radiofrequency, and Sofwave for lifting and sculpting the face, neck and body. — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026 Beijing, often described as the challenger, combines industrial and supply chain dominance with the world’s largest navy and a tightening grip on the physical and digital infrastructure of countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. — Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2026 That’s more than double the rate in 2021, just before the Federal Reserve embarked on an aggressive tightening cycle to rein in inflation. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026 Higher debt-servicing costs can reduce a project’s feasibility by tightening project margins. — Jill Jones, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tightening

Verb

Ewing has recognized his shoulders tensing and his upper body going stiff.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 June 2026
Limited rib mobility interferes with the ability to breathe deeply, triggering your body’s stress response, which increases muscle tensing as a guarding mechanism.

— Dana Santas, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026

Definition of tensing

Verb

Enter the extrait de parfum, a fragrance with concentration beginning at around 20 percent and stretching as high as 60 percent in some cases, versus typically 15 to 20 percent for an eau de parfum.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
The Fantasy Bra has a long history, stretching back 30 years.

— Max Berlinger, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of stretching

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tightened

tightening

tightens

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“Tightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tightening. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of tightening

verb

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