tightrope

noun

tight·​rope ˈtīt-ˌrōp How to pronounce tightrope (audio)
1
: a rope or wire stretched taut for acrobats to perform on
2
: a dangerously precarious situation
usually used in the phrase walk a tightrope

Examples of tightrope in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Russia’s liberals, however, are walking a tightrope. Serhiy Morgunov, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 By Lauren Fox | CNN Speaker Mike Johnson is finding himself once again walking a tightrope between political reality and what can satisfy his right flank, as conservative hardliners staged a rebellion on the House floor Wednesday afternoon. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 10 Jan. 2024 But there was also distinct sense of nominees gingerly crossing a tightrope, trying not to say or do anything that could lose them all that carefully honed goodwill. Jada Yuan, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 There’s no denying that navigating the corporate world as a black woman can feel like walking on a tightrope. Adunola Adeshola, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 School budgeting is a complex juggling act that often leaves superintendents walking a tightrope between financial constraints and public demands. Frank Ricci, National Review, 20 Jan. 2024 The artists tread a thin tightrope between two very different kinds of discipline. Celia Wren, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024 Beverly and Norman Mailer making a dance of balancing on an imaginary tightrope. . . . Gloria Steinem, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2024 This tightrope between the predictable and the unpredictable generates in-game sketch comedies, as seen on the subreddit r/iwanttoapologise. Will Bedingfield, WIRED, 8 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tightrope.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tightrope was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near tightrope

Cite this Entry

“Tightrope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tightrope. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tightrope

noun
tight·​rope -ˌrōp How to pronounce tightrope (audio)
: a rope or wire stretched tight for acrobats to perform on

More from Merriam-Webster on tightrope

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