tightrope

noun

tight·​rope ˈtīt-ˌrōp How to pronounce tightrope (audio)
1
: a rope or wire stretched taut for acrobats to perform on
2
: a dangerously precarious situation
usually used in the phrase walk a tightrope

Examples of tightrope in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The anti-spam protections put in place for Gmail will always walk something of a tightrope between stopping enough spam, a leading distribution channel for malicious actors, and stopping too much genuine email. Davey Winder, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 Many walk a tightrope with fears of succumbing to the cancel culture. Simone E. Morris, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 China has walked a diplomatic tightrope throughout the Russia-Ukraine war. Evelyn Cheng,anniek Bao, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2024 Pundits admired the speech for walking the tightrope of a fraught moment—coming up the middle—with confidence and control. Nathan Heller, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tightrope 

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tightrope was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near tightrope

Cite this Entry

“Tightrope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tightrope. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

tightrope

noun
tight·​rope -ˌrōp How to pronounce tightrope (audio)
: a rope or wire stretched tight for acrobats to perform on

More from Merriam-Webster on tightrope

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