1. the state or quality of being tense, tight, or strained
2. a state of nervous anxiety or emotional strain

Examples

• The tenseness in her shoulders showed how stressed she was.
• He could feel the tenseness of the rope as it stretched tight.
• The meeting was filled with tenseness as they discussed the budget cuts.
• She tried to massage away the tenseness in her neck muscles.
• The tenseness in the room was obvious when the results were announced.
• His voice betrayed a tenseness that worried his friends.