tense
The word “tense” has 1 syllable: tense
It's pronounced as /tɛns/
What is synonym and antonym for tense?
In the thesaurus, “tense” has 105 synonyms and 46 antonyms.
Here are synonyms and antonyms for tense along with examples of usage in sentences.
Synonyms for tense
- aflutter
- aggrieved
- agitating
- antsy
- anxious
- apprehensive
- atwitter
- awkward
- bothered
- bothersome
- cinch
- concerned
- constrict
- creepy
- discouraging
- disheartening
- disquieted
- disquieting
- distraught
- distressed
- distressful
- distressing
- disturbed
- disturbing
- dithery
- edgy
- elongate
- embarrassing
- extend
- fidgety
- firm
- flighty
- flustered
- fluttery
- foreboding
- fraught
- freaked
- freaked-out
- fretful
- fretting
- goosey
- hairy
- hesitant
- het up
- high-strung
- hinky
- hung up
- hypertense
- ill at ease
- inflexible
- insecure
- jittery
- jumpy
- keyed up
- lengthen
- misgiving
- nail-biting
- nerve-racking
- nerve-wracking
- nervous
- nervy
- obsessed
- on edge
- on pins and needles
- on tenterhooks
- perturbed
- preoccupied
- qualmish
- qualmy
- queasy
- queazy
- restive
- restless
- rigid
- shook-up
- skittish
- spooky
- stewing
- stiff
- strain
- strained
- stretch
- taut
- tauten
- tight
- tighten
- tightened
- troubled
- troublesome
- twittered
- undone
- uneasy
- unnerved
- unnerving
- unquiet
- unrelaxed
- unrestful
- unsettling
- unstrung
- unyielding
- upset
- uptight
- vexed
- worried
- worrisome
Antonyms for tense
- calm
- calming
- collected
- comfortable
- confident
- controlled
- cool
- drooping
- droopy
- ease
- easy
- elastic
- flaccid
- flexible
- floppy
- hanging
- happy-go-lucky
- lank
- lax
- limp
- loose
- loosen
- loosened
- nerveless
- pacific
- peaceful
- pliant
- quiet
- quieting
- relax
- relaxed
- resilient
- restful
- sagging
- self-assured
- self-confident
- self-controlled
- slack
- slacken
- slackened
- springy
- stretchy
- supple
- sure
- tranquil
- yielding
Meanings of tense
- noun
- (grammar) Any of the forms of a verb which distinguish when an action or state of being occurs or exists.
- (grammar) An inflected form of a verb that indicates tense.
- The property of indicating the point in time at which an action or state of being occurs or exists.
- verb
- (grammar) To apply a tense to.
- To make or become tense.
- adjective
- Showing signs of stress or strain; not relaxed.
- Pulled taut, without any slack.
Example Sentences
- She felt tense before giving her speech to the large crowd.
- The atmosphere grew tense as the debate continued.
- His shoulders were tense from working at the computer all day.
- They waited in tense silence for the results to be announced.
- You could tell he was tense by the way he clenched his fists.
On this page you'll find 151 synonyms, antonyms, or another words to tense, such as: aflutter, aggrieved, agitating, antsy, anxious, apprehensive, atwitter.
Make sure to choose synonyms and antonyms that are appropriate for the context of the sentence.
Related Words
nail-biting
- agitating
- agitation
- all-overs
- angst
- ants in pants
- antsiness
- anxiety
- anxious
- anxiousness
- apprehension
- awkward
- bad feeling
- botheration
- bothersome
- brunt
- butterflies
- care
- cold sweat
- concern
- creeps
- creepy
- discomfort
- discouraging
- disheartening
- disquiet
- disquieting
- disquietude
- distress
- distressful
- distressing
- disturbing
- doubt
- downer
- drag
- dread
- edginess
- edgy
- embarrassing
- fidgets
- fidgety
- flap
- foreboding
- fraught
- fretfulness
- fuss
- goose bumps
- hairy
- heebie-jeebies
- high-strung
- hostility
- hyper
- impatient
- in suspense
- jitters
- jittery
- jumps
- jumpy
- misery
- misgiving
- mistrust
- needles
- nerve-racking
- nerve-wracking
- nerves
- nerves on edge
- nervous
- nervousness
- panic
- pins and needles
- pressure
- restive
- restless
- restlessness
- shakes
- shivers
- skittish
- solicitude
- strain
- strained
- suffering
- suspense
- sweat
- tense
- trouble
- troublesome
- uncertainty
- unease
- uneasiness
- uneasy
- unnerving
- unrestful
- unsettling
- watchfulness
- willies
- wired
- worriment
- worrisome
- worry
qualmy
- aflutter
- aggrieved
- antsy
- anxious
- apprehensive
- atwitter
- bothered
- concerned
- disquieted
- distraught
- distressed
- disturbed
- dithery
- edgy
- fidgety
- flighty
- flustered
- fluttery
- foreboding
- freaked
- freaked-out
- fretful
- fretting
- goosey
- hesitant
- het up
- high-strung
- hinky
- hung up
- hypertense
- ill at ease
- insecure
- jittery
- jumpy
- misgiving
- nervous
- nervy
- obsessed
- perturbed
- preoccupied
- qualmish
- queasy
- queazy
- restless
- seasick
- shook-up
- sick
- skittish
- spooky
- stewing
- tense
- troubled
- twittered
- undone
- uneasy
- unnerved
- unquiet
- unstrung
- upset
- uptight
- vexed
- worried
edgy
- activating
- aflutter
- aggravating
- aggrieved
- angering
- annoying
- antsy
- anxious
- apprehensive
- atwitter
- bothered
- bothersome
- charged
- clawlike
- concerned
- critical
- cutting
- daggerlike
- disquieted
- distraught
- distressed
- disturbed
- dithery
- edged
- energizing
- enraging
- exasperating
- excitable
- excited
- exciting
- explosive
- fidgety
- fiery
- flighty
- flustered
- fluttery
- foreboding
- freaked
- freaked-out
- fretful
- fretting
- galling
- galvanizing
- goosey
- ground
- hesitant
- het up
- high-strung
- hinky
- honed
- hung up
- hypertense
- ill at ease
- impatient
- incendiary
- inciting
- inducing
- inflammatory
- insecure
- inspirational
- inspiring
- instigating
- instigative
- irascible
- irksome
- irritable
- irritating
- jabbing
- jagged
- jeering
- jittery
- jumpy
- keen
- keyed up
- knifelike
- lacerating
- maddening
- misgiving
- motivating
- motivational
- motivative
- nervous
- nervy
- obsessed
- on edge
- on pins and needles
- on tenterhooks
- overstrung
- perturbed
- pesky
- piercing
- piquing
- pointed
- pointy
- preoccupied
- provocative
- provoking
- qualmish
- qualmy
- queasy
- queazy
- quickening
- restive
- restless
- scratching
- sharp
- sharpened
- shook-up
- skittish
- spikey
- spiky
- spooky
- stabbing
- stewing
- stimulating
- stropped
- taunting
- teasing
- tense
- touchy
- trenchant
- triggering
- troubled
- twittered
- undone
- uneasy
- unnerved
- unquiet
- unstrung
- upset
- upsetting
- uptight
- vexatious
- vexed
- vexing
- vitalizing
- whetted
- worried
hairy
- abstract
- abstruse
- agitating
- anxious
- awkward
- bearded
- bewhiskered
- bothersome
- bristly
- brushy
- burdensome
- bushy
- catchy
- chancy
- complex
- complicated
- cottony
- creepy
- delicate
- demanding
- difficult
- discommoding
- discouraging
- disheartening
- disquieting
- distressful
- distressing
- disturbing
- dodgy
- downy
- embarrassing
- exacting
- exhausting
- fleecy
- flocculent
- fluffy
- foreboding
- fraught
- furred
- furry
- fuzzy
- hairlike
- hard
- hazardous
- hirsute
- importunate
- inconvenient
- intricate
- involved
- jeopardous
- knotty
- lanate
- linty
- misgiving
- moustachioed
- mustachioed
- nail-biting
- nappy
- nasty
- nerve-racking
- nerve-wracking
- nervous
- onerous
- oppressive
- painful
- perilous
- pileous
- piliferous
- pilose
- prickly
- problem
- problematic
- problematical
- pubescent
- puffy
- recondite
- restive
- restless
- risky
- rough
- scabrous
- scary
- sensitive
- serious
- shaggy
- silky
- spiny
- sticky
- strained
- stressful
- stubbled
- stubbly
- stubborn
- tense
- thorny
- ticklish
- touchy
- tough
- treacherous
- tricksy
- tricky
- troublesome
- troublous
- tufted
- uncertain
- uneasy
- unhealthy
- unnerving
- unrestful
- unsettling
- unshaven
- unshorn
- unsound
- vexatious
- vexing
- villous
- whiskered
- wicked
- woolly
- wooly
- worrisome
ill at ease
- aflutter
- aggrieved
- antsy
- anxious
- apprehensive
- atwitter
- awkward
- bothered
- concerned
- discomfited
- disquieted
- distraught
- distressed
- disturbed
- dithery
- doubtful
- edgy
- faltering
- fidgety
- flighty
- flustered
- fluttery
- foreboding
- freaked
- freaked-out
- fretful
- fretting
- goosey
- hesitant
- het up
- high-strung
- hinky
- hung up
- hypertense
- insecure
- jittery
- jumpy
- keyed up
- misgiving
- nervous
- nervy
- obsessed
- on edge
- on pins and needles
- on tenterhooks
- out of place
- perturbed
- preoccupied
- qualmish
- qualmy
- queasy
- queazy
- restless
- self-conscious
- shook-up
- shy
- skittish
- spooky
- stewing
- suspicious
- tense
- troubled
- twittered
- uncomfortable
- undone
- uneasy
- unnerved
- unquiet
- unrelaxed
- unsettled
- unstrung
- unsure
- upset
- uptight
- vexed
- worried