tightened
Turned the screw
Tightened is the past tense of tighten—to make or become tighter.
Something tightened has been made more secure, more constricted, or less slack: He tightened the screws.
Rules or restrictions that have tightened have become stricter: Security tightened after the breach.
Muscles tighten from tension or exertion: Her jaw tightened.
Pressed firmly together
- compressedReduced by pressure
- narrowedMade less wide
- pinchedStole or squeezed tightly
- clenchedContracted with force
contracted · strangled · choked · constrained · cramped · shrunk · restricted · gripped
Made fast or obtained
- boltedFastened or fled suddenly
- screwedSecured with threads
- clampedSecured by compression
- lockedFastened with a mechanism
latched · anchored · fastened · affixed · cinched · strapped · buckled · hitched
Made more robust
- reinforcedMade more resistant
- increasedGrew larger in amount
- heightenedIncreased in degree
- amplifiedIncreased in strength
escalated · stepped up · ramped up · bolstered · hardened · stiffened · firmed · solidified
squeezed
Pressed firmly together
- compressedReduced by pressure
- narrowedMade less wide
- pinchedStole or squeezed tightly
clenched · contracted · strangled · choked · constrained · cramped · shrunk · restricted · gripped · clasped
secured
Made fast or obtained
locked · latched · anchored · fastened · affixed · cinched · strapped · buckled · hitched · lashed
strengthened
Made more robust
- reinforcedMade more resistant
- increasedGrew larger in amount
- heightenedIncreased in degree
amplified · escalated · stepped up · ramped up · bolstered · hardened · stiffened · firmed · solidified · fortified
controlled
Kept within limits
rationed · capped · constrained · reduced · cut back · reined in · cracked down · enforced · policed · monitored
- efficientefficient, streamlined, optimized, effective, productive
- intensifiedamplified, boosted, enhanced, heightened, increased
- took holdgripped, seized, grabbed, grasped, clutched
tightenedloosened
Made less tight
slackened · relaxed · loosed · unfastened · unclenched
- tightened one's beltReduced personal spending
- tighten upMake less loose
- tighten one's beltReduce personal expenditures
- tighten your beltReduce spending voluntarily
- tightening upMaking something more secure
- belt tighteningReducing expenditures deliberately
tighten, tightens, tightening, untighten, untightening, overtightened, overtighten, overtightening, tighten up