sexual tension
Libidinal unrest arising between individuals when exposed to one another.
ADJ
inner
emotional, muscle/muscular, nervous, pre-menstrual, sexual
After the argument, she felt emotional tension throughout her body and couldn't sleep.
VERB + TENSION
feel, suffer from
After the argument, she suffered from tension that made it hard to concentrate at work.
sense
The room fell silent when they walked in, and everyone could sense the tension between them.
cause, create | relieve | release
TENSION + NOUN
headache
PREP
~ in
After the argument, there was obvious tension in the room that made everyone uncomfortable.
PHRASES
a release of tension
After the difficult exam, the students felt a release of tension when they finally left the classroom.
a sign of tension
When the room fell silent, it was a clear sign of tension between the two friends.
ADJ
considerable, great, high
The argument created considerable tension between the two friends for several weeks.
slight | growing, heightened, increased, increasing, mounting | constant | unresolved | renewed | ethnic, political, racial, religious, social | communal, family, internal, international, national, regional
VERB + TENSION
cause, create, generate
defuse, ease, reduce
The mediator helped reduce tension between the two neighboring families.
heighten
TENSION + VERB
build up, grow, increase, mount, rise | ease | be palpable
PREP
~ among
There has been growing tension among the team members since the new manager arrived.
~ between
There has been growing tension between the two neighboring countries over the disputed border.
~ in/within
There has been growing tension in their relationship since they started working together.
~ over
The two countries have had growing tension over trade agreements for months now.
~ with
There has been growing tension with our neighbors since the new fence was built last month.
PHRASES
a source of tension
Different opinions about household chores have been a source of tension in their relationship.
ADJ
string
VERB + TENSION
adjust
The guitar player had to adjust the tension in the strings before the concert.
release
PREP
in ~
The old rope finally snapped because it couldn't handle the strain in tension.
under ~
The rope holding the tent up snapped because it was under too much tension.
~ on
I felt the tension on the rope as the climber pulled harder from below.