TENSIONS Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

tensions 1 of 2

noun

plural of tension

as in pressures

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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tensions

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of tension

as in tightens

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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 tensions

Noun

Despite deep-rooted tensions between southerners and the PLC, both are in agreement that the Houthi threat is far greater than that of the other. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026 More than 150 million Brazilians voted Sunday in a pivotal presidential election for Latin America’s largest economy, after a campaign dominated by tensions between Brasília and Washington. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 4 Oct. 2026 Built in the mid-1980s at the height of Cold War tensions, it was upgraded to meet current standards. — Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026 Similar tensions are emerging in South Korea, with growing opposition to data centers near residential areas and proposals for tighter local restrictions, even as the national government pushes to accelerate development. — April Roach,jenny Lee, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026 Cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan brought the two countries to the brink of war last year, with the acrimony also spilling onto the cricket field. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 Ara Najarian, who serves on the boards of both agencies, acknowledged during a recent meeting of the Metro board that tensions were high between both train systems and the public. — Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026 On Thursday, however, Pezeshkian indicated Tehran would be open to lowering its enrichment levels and allowing outside verification as part of an effort to ease nuclear tensions. — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026 Yet these overt tensions are balanced by an ongoing stream of aesthetic reflections—which in turn are doubled by Hong’s own artistry. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tensions

Noun

Four Hands, Two Sonatas ends with Jeong-yo and Pi-o together again, seemingly free of the pressures and misunderstandings that plagued them for so long.

— Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
Temporarily removing the limits would reduce cost pressures on the businesses that rely on diesel.

— NICHOLAS INGRAM, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of pressures

Noun

Couples can reconnect on white-sand beaches during the day, the stresses of work a distant memory.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
Organizers said the session will dive into cotton cultivation, including the stresses currently facing the crop and its growers and the innovations that are making the practice smarter and more sustainable.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of stresses

Verb

That realization became one of many while crafting a series on a book that spans 50 years and stretches across the country but that Kazan insists is built on the characters, rather than spectacle.

— Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
Highway 1 stretches 656 miles from Leggett in Mendocino County to Dana Point in Orange County.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of stretches

Noun

Concern about affording healthcare topped other strains on the household budget, such as food, utilities, and housing costs.

— Gabrielle M. Etzel, The Washington Examiner, 8 Oct. 2026
Households already facing budget strains—including rising costs of rent, groceries, and fuel—are already delaying technology purchases until prices come down in the US, the CTA reported.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of strains

Verb

But being unfunny is less Digger’s problem than a story that ties itself in knots trying to be clever, as a completely unconvincing big twist alters the picture and opens a window to a grim future.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
The graphic motif is echoed on the laces, creating a refined visual continuity that ties every element of the sneaker together.

— Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of ties

Verb

Because microorganisms in water turn regular mercury into methylmercury, a toxic chemical form that binds tightly to fish tissue, the heavy metal accumulates to higher levels in aquatic animals.

— Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
The Model Context Protocol’s authorization specification binds an access token to the server it was issued for and requires servers to reject tokens that were not.

— Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of binds

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tensioning

tensions

ten-speed

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

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Synonyms of tensions

noun

verb

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