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
Technical Imperatives: Data Access Control and Quality Assurance Consultancies must walk a tightrope: Leverage their collective know-how while never undercutting client confidences.
—
Noah Ohrner, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
The European Commission and its president, Ursula von der Leyen, are navigating a tightrope–balancing a unified negotiating stance with the political and economic pressures facing individual countries.
—Myron Brilliant, Time, 9 July 2025
The Phillies walked a tightrope over the weekend against the Cincinnati Reds and won two games because their starters were phenomenal.
—Matt Gelb, New York Times, 8 July 2025
In the city that Jordan built, new Bulls players often walk a tightrope to avoid offending the fan base with a potentially controversial take.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
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Noah Ohrner, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
The European Commission and its president, Ursula von der Leyen, are navigating a tightrope–balancing a unified negotiating stance with the political and economic pressures facing individual countries.
—Myron Brilliant, Time, 9 July 2025
The Phillies walked a tightrope over the weekend against the Cincinnati Reds and won two games because their starters were phenomenal.
—Matt Gelb, New York Times, 8 July 2025
In the city that Jordan built, new Bulls players often walk a tightrope to avoid offending the fan base with a potentially controversial take.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tightrope
Cite this Entry
“Tightrope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tightrope. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tightrope
noun
tight·rope
-ˌrōp 
: a rope or wire stretched tight for acrobats to perform on
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