stretched tight, as a cord, fiber, etc.; drawn taut; rigid.

in a state of mental or nervous strain; high-strung; taut

a tense person.

characterized by a strain upon the nerves or feelings

a tense moment.

Phonetics . pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles; narrow. Compare lax ( def. 7 ) .

to make or become tense.

adjective

limp , limpid , loose , relaxed , slack , calm , easy-going , laid-back , uncaring

adjective

close , firm , rigid , stiff , strained , taut , agitated , anxious , apprehensive , beside oneself * , bundle of nerves , choked , clutched , concerned , edgy , excited , fidgety , fluttery , high-strung * , hung up * , hyper , in a tizzy , jittery , jumpy , keyed up , moved , moving , nerve-racking , nervous , nervous wreck , on edge , overanxious , overwrought , queasy , restive , restless , shaky , shot * , shot to pieces , stressful , strung out , uneasy , unnerved , unquiet , up the wall , uptight * , white knuckled , wired * , worried , worrying , wound up , wreck * , tight , skittish , twitchy , aorist , conditional , frenetic , future , hectic , high-strung , intense , past , perfect , pluperfect , present , preterite , stressed , stretched , tired , tonic , unrelaxed , uptight

verb

stiffen , tauten , tighten