Synonyms of tightens

tightens

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tenses
• stretches
• lengthens
• tautens
• elongates
• extends
• strains
• constricts
• cinches

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slacks
• loosens
• relaxes
• slackens
• eases

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tightens

But when capacity tightens, the value of those limited auction slots can rise sharply. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026

There will inevitably be weeks when the rotation tightens considerably. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

For the thousands of Indiana children who have lost Medicaid as the state tightens restrictions, the toll of the gap in coverage can be severe. — Marissa Meaor, IndyStar, 11 Sep. 2026

The frame tightens, and the world outside the characters recedes. — Henry Metz, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

But as a violent gang war tightens its grip on the estate, residents begin disappearing without a trace. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026

Untangling Small Knots When a knot in thread, string, or a shoelace tightens into a tiny, frustrating ball, a toothpick can help loosen it without immediately reaching for scissors. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 9 Sep. 2026

The ribbony-soft part contracts and tightens when exposed to the light. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2026

As tuition climbs and federal oversight tightens on low-earning programs, a new tool lets families compare outcomes across California campuses. — Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026