Meaning & use
tightrope
Last updated
A tightly stretched rope or wire high above the ground on which acrobats balance and perform, or a situation requiring careful balance.
See it in a sentence
The circus performer walked across the tightrope without a safety net.
The negotiator had to walk a tightrope between satisfying both sides of the dispute.
A note on using this word
The phrase "walk a tightrope" is a common figurative expression for handling a delicate or risky situation that requires careful balance.
Words with a similar meaning
highwire
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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