tense 1 of 3

adjective

ˈten(t)s How to pronounce tense (audio)
Definition of tensenext
1
as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty was tense about the upcoming bar exam

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2
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings a tense relationship existed between the two teachers

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3
as in tight
stretched with little or no give a tense rope

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tense

2 of 3

verb (1)

as in to tighten
to draw tight he tensed his muscles and attempted to lift the heavy appliance onto the truck

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tensed

3 of 3

verb (2)

past tense of tense
as in tightened
to draw tight he tensed his muscles and attempted to lift the heavy appliance onto the truck

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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 tense
Adjective
That deal was what brought Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House last month, but it wasn’t signed after his tense Oval Office meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance. — John Liu, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025 People are very understandably uncomfortable by this association with Elon Musk, following a very tense and scary political moment in the United States. — Aamina Inayat Khan, StyleCaster, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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 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 See All Example Sentences for tense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tense
  1. worried
  2. uneasy
  3. tight
  4. nervous
  5. disturbing
  6. taut
  7. anxious
  8. unsettling
Adjective
  • The analysts are worried about the software provider’s earnings in an environment where the federal budget is being cut.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2025
  • If the Yankees are worried about pitching, Kevin Cash isn’t with his Rays.
    — Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of worried
Adjective
  • The whole exchange left Brooke feeling a little uneasy.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Sudden shifts in tariffs and federal job cuts have left many investors feeling uneasy.
    — Bruce Gil, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of uneasy
Adjective
  • But Callender promises the plot didn’t suffer as a result of tighter purse strings.
    — Lynette Rice, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2025
  • In tight games like this, that skill is invaluable, as Southgate often found over the years.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, The Athletic, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of tight
Adjective
  • Dogs might feel scared and nervous or have separation anxiety while home alone.
    — Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
  • If people are scared and nervous, that in and of itself is harm.
    — Stephen Daw, Billboard, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of nervous
Adjective
  • While no human-affecting viruses have been revived yet, the fact that ancient microbes can persist in a viable state raises a disturbing possibility: what else is hidden in the deep freeze, waiting to wake up?
    — Scott Travers, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
  • The possibility of losing Miami Beach's only art house cinema is disturbing to Tabsch, a filmmaker whose 2018 documentary The Last Resort, was about Miami Beach's Jewish community in the 1970s.
    — Mandalit del Barco, NPR, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • Black Bag, a taut spy thriller starring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender, is an argument for the filmmaker’s ruthless efficiency.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Dead City is a taut, focused follow-up to The Walking Dead that pares down the franchise’s ensemble, honing in on two of its most memorable supporting characters.
    — Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of taut
Adjective
  • As the end of the sale nears, the company running things becomes more and more anxious to sell as much of the merchandise as possible.
    — Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Highlight your expertise—maybe that's handling anxious children or those with special needs.
    — Ajay Prasad, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of anxious
Adjective
  • Given that feeling competent in one’s work is one of the three basic psychological human needs, this may be unsettling for some.
    — Ellen Choi, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The thought of spending months on end in the sweltering heat is very unsettling for me.
    — Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of unsettling

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Cite this Entry

“Tense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tense. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tense

Nglish: Translation of tense for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tense

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