Firmly vs. Tight — What's the Difference?

Resistant to externally applied pressure.

Fixed or fastened firmly in place

Marked by or indicating the tone and resiliency of healthy tissue

Stretched or drawn out fully

Securely fixed in place

Of such close construction as to be impermeable

Indicating or possessed of determination or resolution

Leaving little empty space through compression; compact

Constant; steadfast

Affording little spare time; full

Not subject to change; fixed and definite

Closely reasoned or concise

Unfluctuating; steady

Fitting close or too close to the skin; snug

Strong and sure

(Slang) Personally close; intimate

To make or become firm. Often used with up.

Experiencing a feeling of constriction

Without wavering; resolutely

Reluctant to spend or give; stingy.

(manner) In a firm or definite or strong manner.

Obtainable with difficulty or only at a high price

(manner) Securely.

Affected by scarcity

In a firm manner.

Difficult to deal with or get out of

With resolute determination;

Barely profitable

In a secure manner; in a manner free from danger;

Closely contested; close

With firmness;

Chiefly British Neat and trim in appearance or arrangement.

Marked by full control over elements or subordinates; firm

(Slang) Intoxicated; drunk.

(Baseball) Inside.

Firmly; securely.

Soundly

Snugly or with constriction

Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open.

Unyielding or firm.

Under high tension; taut.

(colloquial) Scarce, hard to come by.

Intimately friendly.

Miserly or frugal.

(of a space, design or arrangement) Narrow, such that it is difficult for something or someone to pass through it.

Fitting close, or too close, to the body.

Of a turn, sharp, so that the timeframe for making it is narrow and following it is difficult.

Lacking holes; difficult to penetrate; waterproof.

Well-rehearsed and accurate in execution.

(sport) Not conceding many goals.

(slang) Intoxicated; drunk or acting like being drunk.

(slang) Extraordinarily great or special.

Mean; unfair; unkind.

Limited or restricted.

(obsolete) Not ragged; whole; neat; tidy.

(obsolete) Handy; adroit; brisk.

(poker) Of a player, who plays very few hands. en

(poker) Using a strategy which involves playing very few hands. en

Intimate, close, close-knit.

A car with understeer, primarily used to describe NASCAR stock cars.

Angry or irritated.

Firmly, so as not to come loose easily.

Soundly.

(obsolete) To tighten.

Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open; as, tight cloth; a tight knot.

Close, so as not to admit the passage of a liquid or other fluid; not leaky; as, a tight ship; a tight cask; a tight room; - often used in this sense as the second member of a compound; as, water-tight; air-tight.

Fitting close, or too close, to the body; as, a tight coat or other garment.

Not ragged; whole; neat; tidy.

Close; parsimonious; saving; as, a man tight in his dealings.

Not slack or loose; firmly stretched; taut; - applied to a rope, chain, or the like, extended or stretched out.

Handy; adroit; brisk.

Somewhat intoxicated; tipsy.

Pressing; stringent; not easy; firmly held; dear; - said of money or the money market. Cf. Easy, 7.

To tighten.

Closely constrained or constricted or constricting;

Pulled or drawn tight;

Set so close together as to be invulnerable to penetration;

Pressed tightly together;

Used of persons or behavior; characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity;

Affected by scarcity and expensive to borrow;

Of such close construction as to be impermeable;

Of textiles;

Securely or solidly fixed in place; rigid;

(of a contest or contestants) evenly matched;

Very drunk

Exasperatingly difficult to handle or circumvent;

Demanding strict attention to rules and procedures;

Packed closely together;

Firmly or tightly;

In an attentive manner;