tensely

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Word: Tensely

Part of Speech: Adverb

Definition: "Tensely" means to do something in a way that shows nervousness, anxiety, or stress. When someone acts tensely, they are often feeling tight or strained, both physically and emotionally.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "tensely" to describe how someone is behaving or feeling in a stressful situation.
• It often describes body language or the way someone speaks.

Example:

• "She waited for the exam results tensely, biting her nails and glancing at the clock."

Advanced Usage:

• "Tensely" can be used in both physical and emotional contexts. For example, you might describe a person's posture ("He stood tensely with clenched fists") or their way of speaking ("She spoke tensely, her voice shaking").

Word Variants:

• Tense (adj.): Feeling or showing nervousness or anxiety.
• Tension (noun): The state of being stretched tight or mental/emotional strain.
• Tenseness (noun): The quality of being tense.

Different Meanings:

• While "tensely" primarily relates to nervousness or stress, it can also describe something that is physically tight, such as a muscle.

Synonyms:

• Anxiously
• Nervously
• Strained
• Stiffly
• On edge

Idioms:

• "On pins and needles": This means to be in a state of nervous anticipation, similar to feeling tensely.
• "Walking on eggshells": This means being very careful about how you act or speak because someone might react negatively, often causing tension.

Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific phrasal verbs directly related to "tensely," but you might use phrases like "tense up" (to become tense) in a similar context.

Academic

Adverb

1. in a tense manner
   • he sat down tensely