tightened 1 of 2

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
Camp Pendleton has tightened access to the sprawling Marine base in North County in the wake of the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans that killed 14 people. Gary Robbins, The Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2025 But the Pole tightened when on the front foot in two baseline exchanges, moving forward at the wrong time and letting Fritz move out in front. James Hansen, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025 The Biden administration tightened those restrictions in October 2023 and once again in December 2024. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 3 Jan. 2025 State Farm General, Farmers, Allstate and other companies have all declined to write or limited new policies, or tightened their underwriting standards. Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2025 The automobile manufacturer said in the NHTSA recall report that the front upper control arm ball joint nut may not be tightened properly. Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 30 Dec. 2024 Department officials have tightened their camera policy, and raised the possibility of using AI to review the countless hours of footage that goes unseen each month. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2024 The Commanders tightened their defensive alignment after Hurts exited the game. Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024 The defense tightened when Walker replaced David Long as the starting inside linebacker in November. Omar Kelly, Orlando Sentinel, 26 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tightened
Adjective
  • What Maryland public school systems need is not the inflexible conformity demanded by such plans.
    Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2025
  • This could unlock new capabilities in soft robots, which operate more mechanically because they are fitted with inflexible components.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • In a swift and firm response, attorneys representing Harvard sent a letter on April 14th unequivocally rejecting the Administration’s demands.
    Marybeth Gasman, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • This mom was absolutely right to step in and draw a firm line.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Most impactful is the film’s focus on the adult son of Ramirez’s victim, whose anger seems so unyielding.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025
  • In any case, that scenario finds musical expression in an unyielding melody, hardly resting over off-kilter meters.
    Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • After tariffs were unveiled earlier this month, the market went into a steep sell-off until Trump issued a 90-day pause on the stiff rates for most countries.
    Sean Conlon, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2025
  • While a soufflé typically starts by separating egg whites from the yolks and beating the whites until stiff, this recipe skips this step—giving the dish a more casserole-like characteristic with a still-fluffy result.
    Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Clooney and Heslov’s taut script stays on target, resisting any expansion of a story that clocks in a speedy 100 minutes.
    Frank Rizzo, Variety, 4 Apr. 2025
  • The result is a wine whose taut acidity is balanced by a delicately creamy texture that carries notes of passionfruit, green apples, lime blossoms, a hint of fresh-cut tarragon, and a spine of crunchy minerality that rides through the lively finish.
    Brian Freedman, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Mirroring the intricate pattern of the pants, the shirt featured a short, boxy, oversize fit made of rigid cotton denim with a jacquard-weave pattern and a baggy, extra-loose silhouette.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • For entrepreneurs, this highlights the importance of broadening their outlook when faced with obstacles, as rigid thinking can lead to costly mistakes.
    Wilson Luna, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Some regulators might see stablecoins as competition to or complementary with CBDCs, leading to either tighter restrictions or new forms of partnership.
    Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • There’s no tighter part of the property for patrons than Amen Corner, tens of thousands pressed together to watch as McIlroy’s ball flew through the air once, then twice.
    Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tightened. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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