tautening
Growing more rigid
Tautening is the process of making or becoming taut—pulling tight, removing slack.
A rope tautens under load; facial skin tautens with tension or cosmetic treatment.
The word applies to physical tightening and to figurative tension: She felt a tautening in her chest as the deadline approached.
Extending muscles or material
- pullingForce toward oneself
- tensioningIncreasing tightness by pulling
- drawingMarks forming a picture
- cinchingPulling tight to secure
constricting · contracting · straining · firming · stiffening · snugging · bracing · flexing
Contractile body tissue
- flexingContracting muscles voluntarily
- clenchingSqueezing tightly shut
- bracingRefreshingly keen or stimulating
- firmingBecoming less soft
contracting · stiffening · tensing · straining · gripping · coiling · steeling · readying
Making firmly fixed
- lashingBeating or binding
- bindingLegally or morally required
- clampingFixing firmly with pressure
- anchoringFastening securely to position
mooring · fixing · strapping · knotting · splicing · rigging · belaying · guying
Anxious uncertainty about outcomes
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
unease · anticipation · dread · edginess · buildup · mounting · escalating · gripping
stretching
Extending muscles or material
- pullingForce toward oneself
- tensioningIncreasing tightness by pulling
- drawingMarks forming a picture
cinching · constricting · contracting · straining · firming · stiffening · snugging · bracing · flexing · straightening
muscles
Contractile body tissue
- flexingContracting muscles voluntarily
- clenchingSqueezing tightly shut
- bracingRefreshingly keen or stimulating
firming · contracting · stiffening · tensing · straining · gripping · coiling · steeling · readying · poising
securing
Making firmly fixed
anchoring · mooring · fixing · strapping · knotting · splicing · rigging · belaying · guying · winching
suspense
Anxious uncertainty about outcomes
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
apprehension · unease · anticipation · dread · edginess · buildup · mounting · escalating · gripping · riveting