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tense up

VERB

stress

Synonyms

STRONG

afflict burden crunch distend force fret hassle overdo overextend pull spring strain stretch tense traumatize worry

WEAK

put in traction put on trial

Antonyms

STRONG

aid calm comfort compress concentrate help placate soothe

WEAK

attenuate reduce relax

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Curtis seemed to tense up amid the smooth onslaught.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

"I get this feeling of sudden panic, my whole body will just tense up and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2025

Jessi Gold, a psychiatrist based in Tennessee, is trying to use social media mindfully, mostly by actively noticing when she’s starting to tense up or grind her teeth.

From Slate • Jan. 4, 2024

"We ignore them during the day, but our souls tense up when they ring at night," said resident Daniela Tanase.

From Reuters • Sep. 5, 2023

I can see Mami tense up, watching Lorena from the corner of her eye.

From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez

tense up

Example Sentences

Related Words