tension 1 of 2

noun

ˈten(t)-shən How to pronounce tension (audio)
Definition of tensionnext
as in pressure
the burden on one's emotional or mental well-being created by demands on one's time under a lot of tension right now about her decision not to go to college

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tension

2 of 2

verb

as in to tense

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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 tension
Noun
The tension between Black voters and the Democratic Party came to a head last month when Gainesville Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut, a lifelong Democrat, broke ranks to endorse Donalds. — Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the program was designed to ease the burden on millions of people as regional geopolitical tensions drove up global fuel prices. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
In terms of speech, this means the neurons needed to convert the desire to say a word into the muscle activity needed to control the mouth and tongue, expel sufficient breath, and tension the vocal cords. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, 20 May 2024 In a lengthy chat with host Stephen Colbert, the director and actress spoke about everything from firing Shia LaBeouf to tension with star Florence Pugh to whether Harry Styles actually spit on Chris Pine. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2022 See All Example Sentences for tension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tension
  1. pressure
  2. tense
  3. stress
  4. tighten
  5. strain
Noun
  • That ratio is expected to fall to around two by 2050, putting further pressure on growth and public finances, including healthcare systems, according to Moody’s.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026
  • In the early 2000s, the city authorities stopped the culling of baboon troops in response to public pressure, but that has since swollen the population by a third – to around 500.
    — Will Barker, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of pressure
Verb
  • Even an Impractical Joker, after hundreds of public challenges and punishments designed to push the limits of embarrassment, could still tense up when a cellphone camera caught him experimenting with a new bit.
    — Antonio Ferme, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The women tensed when the deputy warden of the Rostov jail, a curt, imperious man with a heavy-footed gait, walked in.
    — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of tense
Noun
  • Following the killing, Pike was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, her attorneys said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Other potential causes are higher rates of chronic stress, depression and anxiety, as well as autoimmune diseases, which weaken the immune system, Curhan said.
    — Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of stress
Verb
  • For now, Dalio said the tightening process is only beginning, with earnings growth still providing support for stocks even as credit conditions start to weaken.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The future for national cinema is bleak under a potential Flávio Bolsonaro presidency, with the candidate vowing to mimic virtually all of his father’s policies—and tighten some even further.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of tighten
Noun
  • The hope is that the mRNA vaccine can target emerging strains quicker, according to the CDC.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But there has been strain between the two leaders over the course of the seven-month Iran war.
    — SEUNG MIN KIM, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of strain

Browse Nearby Words

tensing
tension
tensioned
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Cite this Entry

“Tension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tension. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tension

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tension

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