Synonyms for tension
ˈtɛn ʃənten·sion

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.7 / 3 votes

1. tension

   Synonyms:
   stretch, strain, intentness, tightness, stiffness, force, tone, effort

   Antonyms:
   looseness, relaxation, laxity, atony, slackness

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:1.3 / 4 votes

1. tension, tenseness, stressnoun

   (psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense

   "he suffered from fatigue and emotional tension"; "stress is a vasoconstrictor"

   Synonyms:
   accent, strain, latent hostility, focus, tensity, tautness, tenseness, emphasis, stress

2. tension, tensity, tenseness, tautnessnoun

   the physical condition of being stretched or strained

   "it places great tension on the leg muscles"; "he could feel the tenseness of her body"

   Synonyms:
   stress, tautness, tenseness, tightness, tensity, latent hostility

3. tensionnoun

   a balance between and interplay of opposing elements or tendencies (especially in art or literature)

   "there is a tension created between narrative time and movie time"; "there is a tension between these approaches to understanding history"

   Synonyms:
   stress, tautness, tenseness, tensity, latent hostility

4. tensionnoun

   (physics) a stress that produces an elongation of an elastic physical body

   "the direction of maximum tension moves asymptotically toward the direction of the shear"

   Synonyms:
   stress, tautness, tenseness, tensity, latent hostility

5. latent hostility, tensionnoun

   feelings of hostility that are not manifest

   "he could sense her latent hostility to him"; "the diplomats' first concern was to reduce international tensions"

   Synonyms:
   stress, tenseness, tautness, tensity, latent hostility

6. tensionnoun

   the action of stretching something tight

   "tension holds the belt in the pulleys"

   Synonyms:
   stress, tautness, tenseness, tensity, latent hostility

Matched Categories

1. • Art
   • Balance
   • Condition
   • Physics
   • Psychology
   • Strain
   • Stress
   • Stretching

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. stress

   a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.

   "he's obviously under a lot of stress"

   Submitted by rinat on August 15, 2019  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. tensionnoun

   Synonyms:
   stretching, straining

2. tensionnoun

   Synonyms:
   strain, rigor, severe effort

3. tensionnoun

   Synonyms:
   (Physics.) expansive force, elastic force

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:5.0 / 1 vote

1. List of paraphrases for "tension":

   voltage, tensions, tense, controlgear, strain, traction, stress, tensile, spanning, tensión, pressure, friction

NicknamesRate these nicknames:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of known nicknames for "Tension":

   DJ Tension

How to pronounce tension?

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How to use tension in a sentence?

1. Celia Neustadt:

   I think that the trainings have been really cathartic for police officers to be able to talk about... how they want to be understood and better communicate with teenagers, the officers we're working with really want to fix this tension, just like the teenagers that we work with want to.

2. Matt Smith:

   Geopolitical tension presents the greatest upside risk to the crude market, at least through the first half of the year.

3. Qin Gang:

   I do call on American colleagues to exercise restraint, not to do anything to escalate the tension, if there's any move damaging China's territorial integrity and sovereignty, China will respond.

4. Jeffrey Gundlach:

   I think we are going to keep seeing more tension, i think the 25% tariff bump is better than 50% chance. The market obviously does not want to see increased tariffs, so it's been kind of reacting to that.

5. Cindy Ord:

   I try not to think of it, i try not to think about it onstage because it just makes for a tension that's not exactly fun.