TENSE UP Synonyms
There are 3 hypernyms of the phrase tense up. (close relations)
Definition of TENSE UP
Best Alternative Words for TENSE UP
| Expand? | Word | Save? | More Syns.. | Usage | Type | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| strain | verb, nounv, n | |||||||
noun • (physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces • difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension • a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence • (psychology) nervousness resulting from mental stress • a special variety of domesticated animals within a species • (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups • injury to a muscle (often caused by overuse); results in swelling and pain • the general meaning or substance of an utterance • an effortful attempt to attain a goal • an intense or violent exertion • the act of singing verb • to exert much effort or energy • test the limits of • use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity • separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements • cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious • become stretched or tense or taut • remove by passing through a filter • rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender • alter the shape of (something) by stress | ||||||||
| bunch | verb, nounv, n | |||||||
noun • a grouping of a number of similar things • an informal body of friends • any collection in its entirety verb • form into a bunch • gather or cause to gather into a cluster | ||||||||
| clench | verbv | |||||||
noun • a small slip noose made with seizing • the act of grasping verb • hold in a tight grasp • squeeze together tightly | ||||||||
| constrict | verbv | |||||||
verb • squeeze or press together • become tight or as if tight | ||||||||
| contract | verb, noun, adjectivev, n, adj | |||||||
noun • a binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law • (contract bridge) the highest bid becomes the contract setting the number of tricks that the bidder must make • a variety of bridge in which the bidder receives points toward game only for the number of tricks he bid verb • enter into a contractual arrangement • engage by written agreement • squeeze or press together • be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness • become smaller or draw together • make smaller • compress or concentrate • make or become more narrow or restricted • reduce in scope while retaining essential elements | ||||||||
| cramp | verb, nounv, n | |||||||
noun • a painful and involuntary muscular contraction • a clamp for holding pieces of wood together while they are glued • a strip of metal with ends bent at right angles; used to hold masonry together verb • secure with a cramp • prevent the progress or free movement of • affect with or as if with a cramp • suffer from sudden painful contraction of a muscle | ||||||||
| knot | verb, nounv, n | |||||||
noun • a tight cluster of people or things • any of various fastenings formed by looping and tying a rope (or cord) upon itself or to another rope or to another object • a hard cross-grained round piece of wood in a board where a branch emerged • (of ships and wind) a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour or about 1.15 statute miles per hour • something twisted and tight and swollen • soft lump or unevenness in a yarn; either an imperfection or created by design • a sandpiper that breeds in the Arctic and winters in the Southern Hemisphere verb • make into knots; make knots out of • tie or fasten into a knot • tangle or complicate | ||||||||
| stiffen | verbv | |||||||
verb • become stiff or stiffer • make stiff or stiffer • severely restrict in scope or extent | ||||||||
| tighten | verbv | |||||||
verb • make tight or tighter • become tight or tighter • severely restrict in scope or extent • narrow or limit | ||||||||
| tense | noun, adjectiven, adj | |||||||
adjective • in or of a state of physical or nervous tension • pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in `beat') • taut or rigid; stretched tight noun • a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time verb • become stretched or tense or taut • increase the tension on • become tense, nervous, or uneasy • cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious | ||||||||
