be tense

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Yet beneath these positive election results, the mood can be tense.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

This is going to be tense for them too.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Discussions could be tense and often lasted for weeks.

From Salon • Jun. 18, 2025

It’s important for people to know why they are going into situations they know could be tense or worse, says Ramani Durvasula, Ph.D, a licensed clinical psychologist who talks about the damage of narcissistic relationships.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 22, 2023

I’ll go ahead and tell you that things will probably be tense for a little while, but I do think we’ll eventually get back to seminormal functioning.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone