WordLens

tense

1 of 3adjective
/tɛns/
Forms:tenser,tensest
1

full of anxiety or fear that makes people feel pressure or unease

  • She felt tense before her presentation, worrying about forgetting her lines.
  • The atmosphere in the room grew tense as they waited for the final exam results.
  • He became tense whenever his boss entered the room, fearing criticism.
  • The situation remained tense as negotiations between the two parties stalled.
  • The courtroom had a tense atmosphere as the jury returned.
Synonyms:
fraughtnerve-wrackinganxiousstressful
Antonyms:
relaxed
2

taut or rigid; stretched tight

Antonyms:
lax
3

(of a speech sound) characterized by relatively tight or strained tongue muscles during the pronunciation

  • The vowel in the word was identified as a tense sound.
  • Many German vowels require a more tense pronunciation compared to their English equivalents.
Synonyms:
narrow
Antonyms:
lax