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. Ron Howard:

   Each film has suggested a slightly different style and tone, this one, I think, is much more modern, it's edgier, the crisis that we are dealing with is very real and present and something that people talk about, and it suggests a kind of an urgency and a psychological focus that creates another type of tension. It's a bit more modern cinematically in its approach.

2. Foreign Affairs:

   Obviously, what all of us are hoping for is it would lead to a de-escalation of tension, raise the prospects of peace and for the sake of the North Koreans themselves improve the prospects for economic development, i don't think one meeting next week in Singapore can certainly unlock the entire situation on the Korean peninsula.

3. Angi McClure:

   Stretching the front of the chest can open up the heart and release any tension that we hold in that area, [be it] physically or mentally.

4. Alexander Feldman:

   What keeps us up at night is that one of the big tension areas is the South China Sea.

5. Michael Anderson:

   This is a time like no other, there is divide, there is political divide, there is tension, misinformation, I think it’s an ongoing effort that we, the pediatricians of this country, the family medicine docs, and the families of kids just have to have this ongoing discussion.