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?

How to say tension in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use tension in a sentence?

1. Mark Nelson:

   It's unique. In past shows I've created tension, but it's normally to do with me rather than the audience.

2. Jessica Matthews:

   Yoga intervention: breathing, meditation/mindfulness, and physical practice, was found to reduce tension, anxiety, and (the incidence of) trigger events.

3. Bep Voskuijl:

   ‘Once, I spent the night in the secret annexe. To tell the truth, I was terribly scared. When I heard a branch creaking or an automobile riding along the canal I became frightened. I was grateful when the morning arrived and I could return to working. It’s only now that I understand what the Frank family went through, and they tension they must have had to live under.’

4. Andrew Milligan:

   Very clearly when we all thought that the main trade tensions in the world were between the U.S. and China or perhaps between the U.S. and Europe, we hadn't realized there will be another trade tension with Mexico ... and it raises concerns about who the next country may be.

5. Phil Robertson:

   They set out the potential for discrimination on religious grounds and pose the possibility for serious communal tension, now that these laws are on the books, the concern is how they are implemented and enforced.