tensionnoun
uk/ˈten.ʃən/us/ˈten.ʃən/tension noun (FEELING)
B2 [ U ] a feeling of nervousness before an important or difficult event:
You could feel the tension in the room as we waited for our exam results.
B2 [ C usually plural or U ] a feeling of fear or anger between two groups of people who do not trust each other:
ethnic/racial tension
There are growing tensions between the two countries.
More examples
- The tension in the office just dissolves when she walks out.
- After the arrival of the United Nations soldiers, tension in the area began to ease.
- His speeches fanned the flames of racial tension.
- Many social workers are in the front line of racial tension.
- The strong police presence only heightened the tension among the crowd.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Anxiety and worry - general words
- agitation
- angst
- anxiety
- apprehension
- consternation
- discomfit
- discomfort
- misgiving
- nerve
- oppression
- overwork
- panic attack
- perturbation
- preoccupation
- restive
- strain
- trepidation
- uneasiness
- vexation
- yip
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Anxious and worried
tension noun (STRETCH)
[ U ] The tension of a wire or rope is the degree to which it is stretched.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Tight and tightening
- close-fitting
- fast
- serried
- skinny
- snug
- stiffen
- strain
- taut
- tauten
- tense
- tight
- tighten
- tighten sth up
- tightly
- up
- vice-like