Synonyms

tighten

American

[tahyt-n] / ˈtaɪt n /

verb (used with or without object)

to make or become tight or tighter.

Synonyms:

fasten, anchor, secure

tighten British

/ ˈtaɪtən /

verb

to make or become tight or tighter
to economize

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

overtighten verb
retighten verb
self-tightening adjective
tightener noun
untighten verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of tighten

First recorded in 1720–30; tight + -en ¹

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.

"That does not automatically mean policy tightening, but it can make the Fed more cautious about cutting quickly, because energy-driven inflation can spill into expectations and broader pricing behaviour over time."

From Barron's

It has tightened its rules for who can obtain one of these licenses.

From The Wall Street Journal

Given its vast reach, WhatsApp and its parent company are among the global tech firms closely watched by India's federal government which has, in recent years, tightened digital regulations and pushed platforms for greater accountability.

From BBC

Responding too quickly to higher energy costs could cause too much tightening.

From Barron's

California tightened its property-tax rules in 2021 to limit the circumstances in which heirs can keep a parent’s low tax rate.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023