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

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How to use tension in a sentence?

1. Dominic Grieve:

   Boris Johnson has decided to be a populist politician. That's a very dangerous thing to do, because stirring up people against parliament is not going to solve the country's problems. It will create more anger, more tension.

2. Norman Mailer:

   I think it's bad to talk about one's present work, for it spoils something at the root of the creative act. It discharges the tension.

3. Ian Sams:

   I understand that there’s a tension between protecting and safeguarding the integrity of an ongoing investigation with providing information publicly appropriate with that.

4. Simon Coveney:

   This isn’t a time to increase military activity and tension in the context of what’s happening with and in Ukraine.

5. Rory Medcalf:

   This detention marks the new normal in the bilateral tension, which will be constant low-level tension.