tensely
In anxious anticipation
Tensely describes doing something in a tense manner—with muscles tight, nerves on edge, or anxiety evident.
She waited tensely for the test results.
He gripped the steering wheel tensely as the car skidded.
The word conveys physical or emotional strain showing through in action or posture.
Stretched under tension
- rigidUnable to bend
- stiffNot easily bent
- tightFirmly stretched or fitting
- clenchedContracted with force
contracted · constricted · strained · braced · coiled · flexed · gripping · white-knuckled
In a worried manner
- nervouslyIn an anxious manner
- apprehensivelyWith fearful expectation
- uneasilyIn a worried manner
- fearfullyIn a scared way
worriedly · fretfully · restlessly · agitatedly · edgily · jitterily · guardedly · warily
In an awaiting manner
- breathlesslyWithout pausing to inhale
- nail-bitinglyIn suspenseful fashion
- suspensefullyWith gripping uncertainty
- edge-of-seatIntensely suspenseful experience
watchfully · alertly · intently · keenly · poised · ready · waiting · vigilantly
In a clumsy manner
- uncomfortablyIn a discomfiting manner
- stifflyIn inflexible manner
- coldlyWithout emotional warmth
- frostilyIn an unfriendly manner
curtly · brusquely · guardedly · defensively · standoffishly · hostilely · confrontationally · acrimoniously
taut
Stretched under tension
clenched · contracted · constricted · strained · braced · coiled · flexed · gripping · white-knuckled · locked
anxiously
In a worried manner
- nervouslyIn an anxious manner
- apprehensivelyWith fearful expectation
- uneasilyIn a worried manner
fearfully · worriedly · fretfully · restlessly · agitatedly · edgily · jitterily · guardedly · warily · on-edge
expectantly
In an awaiting manner
- breathlesslyWithout pausing to inhale
- nail-bitinglyIn suspenseful fashion
- suspensefullyWith gripping uncertainty
edge-of-seat · watchfully · alertly · intently · keenly · poised · ready · waiting · vigilantly
awkwardly
In a clumsy manner
- uncomfortablyIn a discomfiting manner
- stifflyIn inflexible manner
- coldlyWithout emotional warmth
frostily · curtly · brusquely · guardedly · defensively · standoffishly · hostilely · confrontationally · acrimoniously · icily
tenselycalmly
In a tranquil manner
relaxedly · serenely · peacefully · tranquilly · composedly
- tense upBecome rigid from stress
- past tenseVerb form for before
- present tenseVerb form indicating now
- future tenseVerb form for later
- verb tenseTime form of action words
- perfect tenseVerb form for finished actions
intense, tense, intensely, pretense, tenser, tensest, tenseness, pretenses