tightened 1 of 2

adjective

as in inflexible

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tightened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of tighten
as in tensed
to draw tight tighten the straps on the backpack so that the load doesn't shift while hiking

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 tightened
Verb
The race for the American League Central title tightened with a walk-off, two-run double in the ninth inning by Brayan Rocchio that gave the Guardians a 7-6 win at Progressive Field. — Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026 Since the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act, cars have generally gotten more fuel-efficient, while regulations on fuel economy have tightened. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2026 New California safety laws have tightened commercial rules after the Lineage fire in Boyle Heights. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026 There is often little room to question why the body tightened, why energy shifted or why an ordinary conversation created resistance. — J.k. Dickinson, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026 The gap between Riggs and fifth-place Giovanni Ruggiero tightened to 39 points. — Reid Spencer, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026 German authorities tightened security measures, after the festival last year had to close temporarily due to overcrowding. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026 The European Central Bank has also recently tightened monetary policy, while the Bank of England this week held its benchmark interest rate but signalled possible hikes ahead. — September 18, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026 As the Nazi grip on the nation tightened, the family fled to Shanghai, where young Peter was taken with the vivid hues of a nearby Buddhist monastery and gained an appetite for American comics. — News Desk, Artforum, 17 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tightened
  1. inflexible
  2. tensed
  3. firm
  4. stretched
  5. unyielding
  6. stiff
  7. taut
  8. rigid
Adjective
  • Their characters contended with sexism, inflexible schedules, unequal pay and the near impossibility of balancing work with responsibilities at home.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Developers can observe these live metrics to understand how new software features behave under real-world conditions rather than relying on rigid, inflexible models.
    — Miroslav Katsarov, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of inflexible
Verb
  • 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
  • As that handover proceeds, the excitatory signal that keeps your muscles faintly tensed all day begins to withdraw, and muscle tone drops toward the near-paralysis of deep sleep.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of tensed
Adjective
  • His cheeks had filled out, and his arms were firm with muscle.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The Sun in Libra opposes Saturn in Aries, highlighting where cooperation, commitments, or expectations may need firmer structure.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of firm
Verb
  • Unfurling through the grand midcentury Grill room was a snaking, glamorously gluttonous serpentine buffet that stretched from entrance to their 20-foot tall windows.
    — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026
  • How to Stream the 2026 MLB Playoffs This year's MLB postseason is stretched across multiple networks and streaming services.
    — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of stretched
Adjective
  • What Jefferson envisaged, in contrast, was an unyielding north-south grid of continental proportions.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • His unyielding tongue-in-cheek career narrative touches on craftsmanship, luxury and nihilism.
    — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of unyielding
Adjective
  • However, further Houthi offensives have met stiffer resistance from the recuperated forces of the Presidential Leadership Council, depriving the group of another quick victory.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Everywhere are cosseting details like stiffer mounting bushes and extra damping bars.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of stiff
Adjective
  • The back of the Torcal hints at last year’s EXP 15 Concept, while the Torcal’s prodigious output is alluded to through the taut and muscular haunches.
    — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Ocean Rainforest said no whales got tangled in taut lines during a two-year demo project.
    — Amy Taxin, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of taut
Adjective
  • Though the idea proved nearly impossible to fully realize, the concept of a more fluid, non-rigid weaving style became central to Wiener’s practice.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Enforcing rigid standards prematurely—as early Space Development Agency (SDA) mandates demonstrated—can freeze sub-optimal designs and throttle rapid tech iteration.
    — Rohit Jha, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of rigid

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Cite this Entry

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

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