tense
Not at ease
Tense describes something stretched tight, whether physically or emotionally.
A tense muscle is contracted and rigid.
A tense situation feels strained, as if something might snap.
A tense person is anxious or on edge: Everyone was tense before the announcement.
To tense is to tighten: She tensed her shoulders.
Separately, tense is the grammatical category indicating when an action occurs—past, present, or future.
Firmly stretched or fitting
aching · contracted · spasm · strain · clenched · shoulder · neck · jaw
Verb form variation system
- verbAction-expressing word
- inflectionWord form alteration
- pastTime already gone
- presentGift or current moment
future · perfect · progressive · subjunctive · imperative · conditional · preterite · pluperfect
Firmly stretched or fitting
clenched · contracted · coiled · stretched · braced · knotted · drawn · constricted
Troubled by uncertainty
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- stressedOverwhelmed by pressure
- worriedTroubled by uncertainty
- uneasyTroubled, not calm
edgy · agitated · apprehensive · jittery · restless · on edge · keyed up · overwrought
tight
Firmly stretched or fitting
stiff · aching · contracted · spasm · strain · clenched · shoulder · neck · jaw · back
conjugation
Verb form variation system
- verbAction-expressing word
- inflectionWord form alteration
- pastTime already gone
present · future · perfect · progressive · subjunctive · imperative · conditional · preterite · pluperfect · aspect
tight
Firmly stretched or fitting
flexed · clenched · contracted · coiled · stretched · braced · knotted · drawn · constricted · firm
anxious
Troubled by uncertainty
uneasy · edgy · agitated · apprehensive · jittery · restless · on edge · keyed up · overwrought · fraught
suspenseful
Creating anxious anticipation
- chargedFormally accused of crime
- strainedUnder uncomfortable tension
- uncomfortableCausing unease or distress
awkward · fraught · electric · thick · heavy · stifling · standoff · confrontation · showdown · impasse
- moodshappy, sad, angry, anxious, excited
- language termsgrammar, word, vocabulary, syntax, synonym
- attitudespositive, negative, ambition, apathy, curiosity
- body language descriptorsopen, closed, relaxed, stiff, slouched
- body movementsflexion, bend, twist, standing, extension
- dramatic tonessuspenseful, ominous, foreboding, menacing, dire
- tend toCare for regularly
- mess tentPortable military dining area
- tense upBecome rigid from stress
- tent sitesDesignated camping spots
- past tenseVerb form for before
- tent revivalOutdoor religious gathering under canvas
attend, tent, extend, pretend, intense, tend, tension, intensity, intensive