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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Recent Examples of tension
Bill Gifford, Outside Online, 26 July 2022
The team will separate and individually tension each of the five sunshield layers, stretching them into their final shape.
—Julia Musto, Fox News, 2 Jan. 2022
Derek Saul, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Iran launched a limited missile attack Monday on a U.S. military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites but indicating it was prepared to step back from escalating tensions in the volatile region.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tension
Noun
The roof bars tension the whole tent nicely, pulling against the stakes, so there’s no slack in the walls and no sag in the roof.
—Bill Gifford, Outside Online, 26 July 2022
The team will separate and individually tension each of the five sunshield layers, stretching them into their final shape.
—Julia Musto, Fox News, 2 Jan. 2022
Verb
Tesla stock’s gain also came as part of a broader rally: The S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq each gained nearly 1% as Wall Street shook off fears of escalating geopolitical tensions tied to Iran’s retaliation to U.S. strikes.
—Derek Saul, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Iran launched a limited missile attack Monday on a U.S. military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites but indicating it was prepared to step back from escalating tensions in the volatile region.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tension
Noun
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Its assessments will consider a wide range of information, including readings on labor market conditions, inflation pressures, and financial and international developments.—
Rohit Arora,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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China is planning to conduct an in-flight escape test at maximum dynamic pressure later this year.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
20 June 2025
Verb
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Chronic impacts of emotional abuse can include anxiety, depression, insomnia, binge drinking or substance abuse and muscle tension from flinching or tensing up, Patel says.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
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Losing one-goal leads had threatened to become a theme against Dallas, but a fast start saw the Stars begin to tense up, instead of the other way ’round.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In addition to vitamin B7 (biotin), the supplements include marine collagen peptides to help strengthen and hydrate, adaptogenic ashwagandha to calm stress hormones’ effects on hair growth, and saw palmetto, which combats thinning by reducing the hair-thinning hormone DHT.—
Emily Orofino,
Vogue,
29 June 2025
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Industry leaders like JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon have argued current restrictions, instituted to prevent a repeat of the Global Financial Crisis, are overly onerous and prevent banks from providing liquidity during times of market stress.—
Greg McKenna,
Fortune,
29 June 2025
Verb
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Many in Iran and abroad now fear the country’s leadership – its pride and defenses wounded – may tighten its grip at home while adopting a much more hawkish stance in both domestic and foreign policy.—
Nadeen Ebrahim,
CNN Money,
26 June 2025
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The Trump Card would also arrive as many countries once favored by the wealthy — including Spain, Portugal and Italy — are tightening their investment-visa programs amid populist opposition and political backlash.—
Robert Frank,
CNBC,
26 June 2025
Noun
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Starter Tanner Houck remains on the injury list with a flexor pronator strain and is scheduled to pitch following an opener on Sunday in Worcester.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
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The variant has similar symptoms to other strains, including fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, sore throat, congestion or a runny nose, new loss of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, nausea or vomiting.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tension. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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