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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tension
Alia Malek, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
By the fall, much of the tension had simmered down.
—Richard Requena, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2025
Julia Musto, Fox News, 2 Jan. 2022
Will tension between hawks and doves be the defining characteristic of Juntos going forward?
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 14 Nov. 2021
See all Example Sentences for tension 
Noun
Across the affected areas of Turkey, more than 650,000 housing units were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by the earthquakes, and tensions quickly escalated between newly homeless Syrians and Turks.
—Alia Malek, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
By the fall, much of the tension had simmered down.
—Richard Requena, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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
Will tension between hawks and doves be the defining characteristic of Juntos going forward?
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 14 Nov. 2021
See all Example Sentences for tension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tension
Noun
-
Not everybody goes through this intense amount of pressure, and on such a scale and in such a spotlight.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
27 Jan. 2025
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Economists have warned that Trump’s plans for tariffs and tax cuts could create new inflationary pressures and keep interest rates elevated.—
Josh Boak,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Key Ingredients: Chantecaille’s mask is enriched with plant stem cells, four peptides, tensing agents, and nourishers to smooth and lift the skin.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
9 Jan. 2025
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Vanderbilt speech pathologist Jennifer Muckala added that Williams-Paisley’s muscles had been tensing up to compensate for her vocal cords.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
Fox News,
19 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Unfortunately, new research from Intuit reveals this stark truth: 61% of Black Americans aged 18-35 are grappling with intense financial stress, a number that exposes the deep economic challenges facing our community.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
24 Jan. 2025
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All issues the Dodgers failed to effectively address until the stress of deadline season.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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This trend may accelerate as funding tightens for standalone startups.—
Ilona Limonta-Volkova,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
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After President Trump left the White House in 2021, critics of his norm-breaking use of executive power implored Congress to tighten legal limits on when presidents can unilaterally reshape American government with the stroke of a pen.—
Charlie Savage,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Image Adding to the strain was a sharp decline in housing construction across Europe after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drove up prices for building materials and energy.—
Liz Alderman,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
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The bird flu strain appeared in the U.S. in late 2021.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA TODAY,
23 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near tension
Cite this Entry
“Tension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tension. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
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