tightens

Definition of tightensnext
present tense third-person singular of tighten
as in tenses
to draw tight tighten the straps on the backpack so that the load doesn't shift while hiking

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 tightens Win it, and suddenly the series tightens, the doubt creeps in and the path gets a lot more complicated for Orlando. Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026 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 Transits through the waterway have reduced to a trickle over seven weeks of war in the Persian Gulf, as Iran tightens control in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes. Weilun Soon, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026 The Retinal ReSculpt Body Treatment dramatically lifts, firms, and tightens sagging, crepey skin and smooths the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks. ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026 In general, Krimmel explained, a housing market tightens, reaches peak seller conditions, cools back toward balance, becomes more buyer-friendly, and eventually recovers again as conditions improve. Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026 This $25 anti-aging formula plumps, firms, and tightens dull, crepey skin. Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026 The move further tightens the Nitaqat system, which has imposed quotas for Saudi hires since 2011. Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 8 Apr. 2026 As climate change tightens its grip over the Arctic, deeper layers of permafrost are activating in this way. Quanta Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tightens
Verb
  • Breezily elegant in execution and at times even Hitchcockian, The Girlfriend is a delicious thriller that tenses up with each new scene and revelation.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Noriega, the analyst, said that the amount companies are paying to cross the Panama Canal may continue to go up if the conflict stretches on, as oil prices are already skyrocketing.
    Alma Solís, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Announced Tuesday, the official feature competition includes 11 films, with France again playing an outsized role — six of the titles are French productions or co-productions — even as the selection stretches across Asia and the Americas.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tightens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tightens. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on tightens

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster