tenseness C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas US /ˈtɛnsnəs/ UK /ˈtɛnsnəs/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun the state of being physically or emotionally taut or strained You could feel the tenseness in the room before the verdict. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · the state of being... tensionstraintightnessstressnervousnessedginessanxiety ↔ Opposites relaxationcalmeaselooseness Word family Related forms tensetensiontensiletensity Etymology AI details From tense + -ness. Tense is from Latin tensus ('stretched'), past participle of tendere ('to stretch'). tensus Latin tendere Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # tenseness **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˈtɛnsnəs/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈtɛnsnəs/ ## Meanings 1. the state of being physically or emotionally taut or strained ## Examples - You could feel the tenseness in the room before the verdict. ## Synonyms - tension - strain - tightness - stress - nervousness - edginess - anxiety ## Antonyms - relaxation - calm - ease - looseness ## Related Forms - tense - tension - tensile - tensity ## Roots and Affixes - Root: tensus - Root: tendere ## Etymology From tense + -ness. Tense is from Latin tensus ('stretched'), past participle of tendere ('to stretch'). ## AI Etymology Tenseness is from tense + -ness. Tense is from Latin tensus ('stretched'), past participle of tendere ('to stretch'). Important recorded forms include tensus (Latin) and tendere (Latin). Morphologically, the native -ness suffix turns an adjective or quality word into an abstract noun naming the state or condition. The modern sense is largely compositional, with the historical elements narrowing into a stable English lexical item. In current use it covers the state of being physically or emotionally taut or strained. The wider family includes related words such as tense, tension, tensile, and tensity. ## Topics - Abstract Ideas - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown