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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tight
stretched with little or no give
a tense rope
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of tense
Noel Murray, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024
Biden joined a Zoom call hosted by Kuster and New Dems that was tense as members challenged him on his capabilities.
—Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Dec. 2024
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024
Progressive Muscle Relaxation Progressive muscle relaxation is a technique that involves tensing and relaxing all the muscles in your body, group by group, in a specific order.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tense 
Adjective
Like the tense conversation between Juliette and Solo, the angry standoff between Sims and Bernard is one of this episode’s highlights.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024
Biden joined a Zoom call hosted by Kuster and New Dems that was tense as members challenged him on his capabilities.
—Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
Franklin’s in-game coaching decisions and curious clock management at the end of the first half helped seal the Nittany Lions’ reputation as a team that tenses up in big games.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024
Progressive Muscle Relaxation Progressive muscle relaxation is a technique that involves tensing and relaxing all the muscles in your body, group by group, in a specific order.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tense
Adjective
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Rather than being concerned that Musk has too much influence over the president-elect, Jayapal should be worried about who’s making decisions for the current president.Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 26 Dec. 2024
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Gift recipients are much less worried about when the gift arrives.Rebecca Walker Reczek, Cory Haltman, CBS News, 25 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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But the series also revealed an uneasy disconnect between the British public and the media.Katie Marie Davies, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Dec. 2024
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Here, she’s filmed upside-down against a stark white sky with the old girl bobbing on an uneasy axis.Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The whole package is great fun, and everything wraps up in a blessedly tight 95 minutes (man, movies are way too long these days).Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024
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In general, the skin on your feet may feel rough, tight, and hard at times.Francisco J. Rivera Rosario, Health, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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That could be especially helpful for passengers who are nervous about being on a ship.Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
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Too nervous to ask him on an actual date, Beth instead asked him for a reservation at Maison Premiere.Elise Taylor, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The most disturbing thing about the Red Wings’ place in the standings is not merely their win/loss totals.Max Bultman, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
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Jacob Cockcroft finds that one of the most disturbing parts of the case.Kyani Reid, NBC News, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In the lab, a piece of aerogel material a couple millimeters thick is held taut inside a metal frame.Ari Daniel, NPR, 9 Dec. 2024
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Sharp’s hushed but taut narration played out in real time, like an announcer calling a tennis game.Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The horror sequel centers on pop star and drug addict Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), who's anxious about a comeback tour and visits her dealer for pills.Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
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His words speak to an anxious, ongoing need not just to entertain, but to distract, to overact, to keep the audience unmoored, all in an effort to hide deep and intractable feelings of inadequacy.Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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And Robert Zemeckis' 2009 take featuring Jim Carrey is noteworthy for a few reasons: Not only are the ghosts downright terrifying, but the animation style is also unsettling, and may scare you for all the wrong reasons.Huntley Woods, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
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In addition to this unsettling experience, Robbins shared with Newsweek a moment of unexpected kindness during her return flight.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Tense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tense. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.
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