tightens

Definition of tightensnext
present tense third-person singular of tighten
as in tenses
to draw tight tighten the straps on the backpack so that the load doesn't shift while hiking

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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 tightens Pell Grant rules are changing The new tax law also tightens eligibility requirements for the Pell Grant program, the largest federal aid program for low-income students. Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 1 June 2026 Continue reading … REALITY CHECK — Spencer Pratt gains ground on Karen Bass as LA mayoral race tightens. FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026 Iran tightens its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, slashing ship traffic, roiling global energy markets and fertilizer supplies, and raising fears of rising fuel costs and food shortages far beyond the Gulf. Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026 The loop tightens with each pass. Douglas Goodwin, The Conversation, 1 June 2026 Newsom’s trailer bill tightens eligibility, narrows qualifying pre-existing conditions and strengthens oversight of medical evaluations. Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 31 May 2026 When infrastructure closes, supply tightens. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, Oc Register, 31 May 2026 Indonesia tightens its grip on natural resources Prabowo told lawmakers Indonesia had lost as much as $908 billion because exporters underreport their sales to avoid paying taxes and other fees. Edna Tarigan, Fortune, 26 May 2026 When stress rises or time tightens, surface goals dissolve first. Sherry McAllister, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tightens
Verb
  • Breezily elegant in execution and at times even Hitchcockian, The Girlfriend is a delicious thriller that tenses up with each new scene and revelation.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • From up here, San Sebastián gleams to the east, the sea stretches endlessly forward, and silence settles like an ancient cloak.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • The kitchen stretches from the front of the restaurant along the side wall and into the back of the dining room.
    Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Tightens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tightens. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.

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