tense 1 of 3

adjective

ˈten(t)s How to pronounce tense (audio)
Definition of tensenext
1
as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty was tense about the upcoming bar exam

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2
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings a tense relationship existed between the two teachers

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3
as in tight
stretched with little or no give a tense rope

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tense

2 of 3

verb (1)

as in to tighten
to draw tight he tensed his muscles and attempted to lift the heavy appliance onto the truck

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tensing

3 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of tense
as in tightening
to draw tight he tensed his muscles and attempted to lift the heavy appliance onto the truck

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 tense
Adjective
Mikel Arteta has repeatedly spoken of a desire to widen the margins between his team and the opposition this summer, which would be welcome considering how tight and tense most of their title-winning campaign was. — Art De Roché, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Wild Horse Nine stars Malkovich and Rockwell as two CIA operatives who travel from Santiago, Chile, to Easter Island amid the tense lead-up to the South American nation’s 1973 coup. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
Be a good child, do what they’re told, be the best child, a tremble in their hands, say nothing, tensed for the knock on the door. — Literary Hub, 17 June 2026 Relaxation exercises Stress-reduction techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and tensing and relaxing muscle groups can calm the nervous system and help patients feel more in control of their symptoms, says Moss. — Mark Marino, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
Keeping in the same position for a long period of time, especially if cramped or uncomfortable, can also lead to muscles tensing up and feeling tight. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2025 Keep tensing and releasing muscles of the chest, abdomen, pelvis, legs, feet, and toes. — Carley Millhone, Health, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tense
  1. worried
  2. uneasy
  3. tight
  4. tighten
  5. nervous
  6. disturbing
  7. taut
  8. anxious
Adjective
  • Why people don’t like it Some residents are worried about how these sprawling energy farms will affect local soil, especially near farmland.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The drop in tech talent in the Bay Area comes as workers grow more worried that AI could lead to fewer jobs.
    — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of worried
Adjective
  • Security will remain in place at the schools, officials said, and counselors will be available for students who feel uneasy about attending classes.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • But that blend of raucous laughs (OK, well, some raucous laughs, some mere attempts at them) and real world concerns makes for an uneasy watch, ping-ponging between moods and tones in unpredictable ways.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of uneasy
Adjective
  • Luchanko often creates chances for his teammates on the move, in tight and off the edge.
    — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • If money is tight, families tend to prioritize keeping boys in school, even if girls show more promise, experts say.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of tight
Verb
  • Their lawsuit against Jones and the 2022 verdict marked the first time he was held financially liable for peddling lies about the massacre, claiming it was faked by the government to tighten gun laws.
    — Jim Vertuno, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The lawsuit and 2022 verdict against Jones marked the first time he was held financially liable for peddling lies about the massacre, claiming it was faked by the government to tighten gun laws.
    — Jim Vertuno, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of tighten
Adjective
  • Until Bezos, or any of his new partners, speak publicly, the conversation about what comes next will be nervous.
    — Simon Hughes, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • In a nervous market full of geopolitical tension, IPOs have attracted a lot of investor attention, with AI darlings Anthropic and OpenAI preparing for their own debuts.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of nervous
Adjective
  • The disturbing incident comes amidst a sharp increase in both felony and misdemeanor assaults in the subway system.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The story follows a husband and wife who buy their dream ranch only to discover the land is alive with ancient spirits, and survival means submitting to increasingly disturbing rituals with each turn of the season.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • Filmmaker Rubaiyat Hossain crafts a taut supernatural drama that dissects the patriarchy hiding beneath the veneer of a fairytale wedding.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
  • For a woman who died in 1818, her face seems slightly too taut, her eyes slightly too wide, her skin slightly too bright.
    — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Definition of taut
Adjective
  • Fortunately for the anxious among us, and less fortunately for those still loyal to the dying rituals of interpersonal correspondence, Cynthia has recently moved to online reservations.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Yet even the president’s die-hard supporters are becoming more anxious about the costs associated with the war.
    — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of anxious

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tense
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Cite this Entry

“Tense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tense. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tense

Nglish: Translation of tense for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tense

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