Cool MateGreat emotional stress vs Tension
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Great emotional stress
Top 3,000 (common)
Tension
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Most common: Tension
| Great emotional stress | Tension | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɡreɪt ɪˈməʊʃənl strɛs//🇺🇸 //ɡreɪt ɪˈmoʊʃənl strɛs// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtenʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtenʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | A lot of emotional pressure or worry. | The feeling of stress or worry. |
| Example | She faced great emotional stress during the divorce. | The tension in the room was palpable before the announcement. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | great emotional strain, experience great emotional stress, cope with great emotional stress | considerable, great, high, cause, create, generate, build up, grow, increase, tension among, tension between, tension in, a source of tension, considerable, great, high, cause, create, generate, build up, grow, increase, tension among, tension between, tension in, a source of tension, inner, emotional, nervous, feel, suffer from, sense, headache, tension in, a release of tension, a sign of tension, dramatic, build, heighten, increase, build, grow, mount, string, adjust, release, in tension, under tension, tension on |
| Antonyms | emotional stability, calmness, ease | calmness, relaxation, ease |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'great emotional distress', which has a more specific meaning., Using 'stress' inaccurately with physical health instead of emotional context. | Confused with 'intention'; they sound similar but mean different things., Using 'tension' when referring to physical items, like 'tension in a rope', which is less common., Mixing 'tense' and 'tension' incorrectly in phrases. |
| Usage notes | Used in contexts discussing mental health or personal experiences. Avoid in casual conversations. | Use 'tension' when talking about stress in situations or relationships. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Great emotional stress vs Tension
What's the difference between Great emotional stress and Tension?
Great emotional stress: A lot of emotional pressure or worry. Tension: The feeling of stress or worry.
Which is more common: Great emotional stress and Tension?
Tension is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Great emotional stress: She faced great emotional stress during the divorce. Tension: The tension in the room was palpable before the announcement.
Can I use Great emotional stress and Tension interchangeably?
Not always. Great emotional stress and Tension are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.