tense 1 of 2

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 2

verb

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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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
Regan has had a tense relationship with some quarters of the labor movement and didn’t collaborate with some of the labor movement’s biggest players on the billionaire tax. — Ben Paviour july 2, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026 South Africa’s anti-migrant protest leaders vowed a rolling campaign targeting the country’s commercial hubs after tense nationwide protests ended with activists giving the government six months to enforce mass deportations and workplace quotas. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 1 July 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 Ewing has recognized his shoulders tensing and his upper body going stiff. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 June 2026 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
  • The city is recommending zoning regulations that fall in line with state statute while trying to calm residents who are worried data centers will overwhelm resources like water and energy and impose on their quality of life.
    — Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
  • Hollywood insider Rob Shuter is reporting that guests to the wedding are worried about the itinerary and the scale of the celebration.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 2 July 2026
Definition of worried
Adjective
  • The company and the government have since seemed to settle into an uneasy truce.
    — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 1 July 2026
  • But some retirees remain uneasy about security concerns, healthcare quality, and property ownership structures.
    — Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of uneasy
Adjective
  • In a massive joint operation, US Central Command – with tight coordination from US Strategic Command, US Space Command, and the US Space Force – used electromagnetic warfare to blank out a massive area over Iran.
    — David Szondy July 06, New Atlas, 7 July 2026
  • In major competitions since Euro 1984 (including the UEFA Nations League), the contests have been tight affairs that have been decided by one goal or penalties.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of tight
Verb
  • The push for community solar in Boise comes amid growing restrictions on renewable energy across Ada County, where commissioners voted last year to dramatically tighten rules on where large-scale solar panel arrays can be built.
    — Matan Josephy, Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026
  • Plus, glycerin, collagen, and niacinamide to tighten fine lines, improve firmness, and restore hydration, so the skin looks plump and supple.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 3 July 2026
Definition of tighten
Adjective
  • At Clis boutique in Melrose Park, owner Jeimmy Espina is nervous and overwhelmed by the number of dead and injured in her home country.
    — Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Apple head honchos are nervous about cybersecurity – and one reason might be a recent supply chain attack on supplier Tata, the largest Indian company of its kind to ink a partnership with the front-running American smartphone company.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of nervous
Adjective
  • There were many disturbing parts of Kerstin’s story left unpursued.
    — William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • The film is a modern take on the creature horror film told from the perspective of a young boy who slowly begins to discover that his beloved parents are hiding a disturbing secret about his mother’s true nature.
    — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 25 June 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • 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
  • Bass is taut and clean, midrange clear and expressive, and treble crisp and extended for a high definition performance with all manner of music.
    — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of taut
Adjective
  • Max is accompanied on his adventures by anxious robot C-3PO AB Sitter, and FX, a magical alien masquerading as a toy who can turn the kid's implausibly impressive sand sculptures into fully functioning robots.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 5 July 2026
  • America’s centennial in 1876 was celebrated with a grand exhibition that projected an image of national unity and inventiveness in the anxious aftermath of civil war and recession.
    — The New York Review of Books, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026
Definition of anxious

Browse Nearby Words

tens
tense
tensed
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Cite this Entry

“Tense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tense. Accessed 7 Jul. 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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