What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
tensely
Example
The atmosphere in the room was tensely quiet as everyone waited for the results. [tensely: adverb]
Example
She held her breath tensely as she waited for the phone to ring. [tensely: adverb]
nervously
Example
He nervously tapped his foot as he waited for the interview to begin. [nervously: adverb]
Example
She spoke nervously, stumbling over her words. [nervously: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Nervously is more commonly used than tensely in everyday language. Nervously is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while tensely is less common and tends to be used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between tensely and nervously?
Both tensely and nervously are informal words and are suitable for casual conversations. However, tensely may be slightly more formal than nervously due to its less frequent usage.
