1
as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty
was tense about the upcoming bar exam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
a tense relationship existed between the two teachers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tight
stretched with little or no give
a tense rope
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in tightening
to draw tight
he tensed his muscles and attempted to lift the heavy appliance onto the truck
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tense
Sareen Habeshian, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025
That scene was so tense, and seeing Maddie stop her was fantastic.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 6 Feb. 2025
Michelle Cruz, The Arizona Republic, 3 Dec. 2024
And that lack of oxygen makes our muscles tense up and restricts blood flow.
—Marielle Segarra, NPR, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tense 
Adjective
The big picture: Trump, who had a tense relationship with the Kennedy Center in his first term, now appears to be taking control of the art institution and removing adversaries from its board.
—Sareen Habeshian, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025
That scene was so tense, and seeing Maddie stop her was fantastic.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 6 Feb. 2025
Verb
The unidentified caseworker was described in court documents as having his eyes bulging, drooling and his arm muscles tensing during the attack.
—Michelle Cruz, The Arizona Republic, 3 Dec. 2024
And that lack of oxygen makes our muscles tense up and restricts blood flow.
—Marielle Segarra, NPR, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tense
Adjective
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How worried should the team be about his availability for the playoffs?—
AAron Ontiveroz,
The Denver Post,
6 Feb. 2025
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Other Trump critics are worried about the humanitarian impact of cutting aid programs—Newsweek has reported on an AIDS foundation's estimation that more than 100,000 babies could be born with HIV as a result of Trump's freeze.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Bochner began working in the wake of Abstract Expressionism, whose emphasis on artistic genius, painterly excellence, and formalism left many of his generation feeling uneasy.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
14 Feb. 2025
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This has posed a problem for the Kremlin, which does not want to be seen clamping down on those who are essentially patriots but may be uneasy with warts-and-all accounts of Russian battlefield setbacks.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Either one of these increases could significantly curtail an endowment's ability to make future investments, and even the threat may cause endowment managers to hold their wallets tighter.—
Dan Primack,
Axios,
14 Feb. 2025
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Because of the ferrets’ long, slim shape and the necessity of not making the collars too tight, the wily animals can slip out of the trackers, Boulerice said.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Both Hancock and Quaid recall their first meeting about the script — especially how nervous the actor was.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
4 Feb. 2025
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These tips can help nervous flyers manage or overcome their fear of the skies.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But even for Ye, his abrupt public embrace of antisemitism and counterintuitive right-wing political rhetoric, resulting in his bringing avowed white nationalist Nick Fuentes to dine with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, has been disturbing.—
Aja Romano,
Vox,
7 Feb. 2025
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During the investigation, other facility staff showed deputies a disturbing video that was sent to them in a group chat from Rice.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Two years later, the production version was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, looking almost identical to the initial vision — its taut, clean lines and aggressive proportions still every bit worthy of a concept car dream.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
30 Jan. 2025
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Their leading scorer sidelined by an ankle injury, their offense having gone cold, their defense reeling, their ability to make free throws having failed them, the Bruins pulled out a taut 82-76 victory over USC thanks to some heroics from Sebastian Mack.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Related article More kids are anxious but fewer are getting the right help, study shows New fears and anxieties tend to develop and vary as children and adolescents grow and adapt to new environments, Silverman said.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN,
5 Feb. 2025
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The person in question has legal status and was feeling anxious about the Trump administration's hardline immigration agenda.—
Anders Fogh Rasmussen,
Newsweek,
4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Equal parts exhilarating and unsettling, many fans crowned Lamar victorious in the beef, especially after the spat led to litigation.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA TODAY,
7 Feb. 2025
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But Syrian human rights groups and locals have publicized unsettling accounts of summary executions and disappearances of Alawites.—
Fawaz A. Gerges,
Foreign Affairs,
27 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to tense
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Cite this Entry
“Tense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tense. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
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