tightened 1 of 2

adjective

as in inflexible

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tightened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of tighten
as in tensed
to draw tight tighten the straps on the backpack so that the load doesn't shift while hiking

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tightened
Verb
China accelerated its domestic chipmaking efforts after Washington tightened restrictions on Huawei Technologies in 2020, cutting the company off from TSMC. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026 The naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz remains in place, secondary sanctions are being tightened, and pressure is being increased on countries and financial networks that have allowed Tehran to circumvent previous restrictions. — Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 29 Aug. 2026 At the same time, a July 2026 Federal Reserve survey on bank lending practices showed that, compared to 2005, lending standards have tightened for all types of loans, except commercial and industrial lending. — Ryley Amond, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026 In an effort to limit those sight lines, this season MLB tightened a longstanding rule governing where first- and third-base coaches are permitted to stand on the field. — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 The state law tightened bail rules for violent offenses, changed protocols for mental health evaluations and funded additional prosecutors in Mecklenburg County. — Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026 Lines have grown outside gas stations across Tehran in recent weeks as the United States has tightened its blockade and threatened more severe sanctions, with some people waiting for two hours or more to fill up. — David Rising, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Since his original conviction, the law has been tightened to allow sentences of up to five years for forgery, said Marseglia. — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026 Washington began imposing restrictions on Nvidia’s exports of advanced chips to China in 2022 and tightened them in subsequent years. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tightened
  1. inflexible
  2. tensed
  3. firm
  4. stretched
  5. unyielding
  6. stiff
  7. taut
  8. rigid
Adjective
  • Many ex-addicts turn to religion, exchanging one inflexible code for another; John’s own post-heroin spiritual exercises were omnivorous.
    — Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Warsh believes forward guidance made the Fed inflexible and obscured signals from the markets.
    — Matt Peterson, CNBC, 30 July 2026
Definition of inflexible
Verb
  • The women tensed when the deputy warden of the Rostov jail, a curt, imperious man with a heavy-footed gait, walked in.
    — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • As that handover proceeds, the excitatory signal that keeps your muscles faintly tensed all day begins to withdraw, and muscle tone drops toward the near-paralysis of deep sleep.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of tensed
Adjective
  • The increasing chances of being taken, whether one is in a church, mosque, school, on a trip to the capital Abuja or resting at home, is a grim reality that should not be the case given Tinubu’s firm campaign pledges.
    — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • It’s made with Alaria seaweed to improve skin’s elasticity and give it a firmer look, while a blend of natural oils leaves the skin feeling smooth as a siren song.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of firm
Verb
  • Eiffela Broken Dream splits the Eiffel Tower into two sections, with a cable stretched between them for a tightrope crossing.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Blair's 52-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage in the second half stretched the Jackrabbits' lead to 49-0.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of stretched
Adjective
  • While his on-field production for Philadelphia has been disappointing, his strong, unyielding personality continues to define his long career.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • But what differentiates them from some of their peers is the unyielding pace of their live shows, all of it delivered with the grinning joy of playing rock ‘n’ roll.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of unyielding
Adjective
  • Schmidt, who hasn’t pitched in a big league game since July 3 of last year, can’t wait to face stiffer competition out of the Yankees’ bullpen before the season ends.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Meet Shape Set—Olaplex’s answer to crunchy, stiff formulas of years past.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of stiff
Adjective
  • Filmmaker Rubaiyat Hossain crafts a taut supernatural drama that dissects the patriarchy hiding beneath the veneer of a fairytale wedding.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
  • For a woman who died in 1818, her face seems slightly too taut, her eyes slightly too wide, her skin slightly too bright.
    — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Definition of taut
Adjective
  • Shampoo can come in a rigid plastic bottle, a flexible squeeze tube, a refillable metal canister or a solid bar in a paperboard box.
    — Erin Victor, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Innanen’s most popular videos make toxic masculinity and rigid political ideologies the butt of the joke, often followed immediately by quippy shirtless videos.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of rigid

Browse Nearby Words

tighten
tightened
tightening
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Cite this Entry

“Tightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tightened. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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