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
Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 1 May 2026
However, even if Walz signs the law, tensions remain that could frustrate enforcement.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2022
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
See All Example Sentences for tension
Noun
The piece sits low to the ground and gathers organic and industrial materials without smoothing over the tension between them.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 1 May 2026
However, even if Walz signs the law, tensions remain that could frustrate enforcement.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
Verb
In a lengthy chat with host Stephen Colbert, the director and actress spoke about everything from firing Shia LaBeouf to tension with star Florence Pugh to whether Harry Styles actually spit on Chris Pine.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2022
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
See All Example Sentences for tension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tension
Noun
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But within Seattle’s defense — a unit built on balance, depth and consistent pressure — his role still mattered.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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In a sign of the pressure for Republicans to take advantage of the opportunity, multiple hopefuls running for governor in GOP primaries called for immediate redraws.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Instead, he was intrigued by a scene in which Back visibly tensed up after the producers told him he was suspected of being Satoshi.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The uneven ground forces the body to tense with every step.—
Abraham Nudelstejer,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Lewkowitz described the biological struggle of the cotton plant, noting that the finest fibers are often the result of the plant evolving to survive stress.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
27 Apr. 2026
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It's made with a supportive insole that can help remove stress from the joint at your big toe, hopefully improving or preventing bunion pain.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Palestinian Authority’s power has withered amid years without peace negotiations and Israel tightening its grip on the West Bank.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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There’s also Title Wave Books in Anchorage, which houses one of the most extensive collections of Indigenous American literature in the country, and Nā Mea Hawai'i, whose collection tightens its scope to Hawaiian culture and history.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The long hours of immersion in cold water and the strain of swimming fully clothed through turbulent waves toward the tantalizingly near shoreline must have drained the last bit of endurance from him.—
Jim Hoagland,
Outdoor Life,
30 Apr. 2026
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As of April 13, a total of 34 people in 13 states have been infected with the outbreak strain of salmonella saintpaul.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tension. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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