creative tension

British  

noun

1. a situation where disagreement or discord ultimately gives rise to better ideas or outcomes

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Example Sentences

There were reports of creative tension between Zendaya and Levinson.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

There is also a bittersweet irony in how things played out, since the idea of Hollywood causing creative tension has long been a running joke between them and their fans.

From Washington Post • Jul. 20, 2022

To do things that are really differentiated, you need to have creative tension and creative conflict.

From The Verge • May 3, 2022

The creative tension was irresistible: Win, or leave town.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 28, 2021

And the eternal vision, thus momentarily attained, and hereafter gathered together from the deep cisterns of memory, liberates us, when we are under its influence, from that contemplative or creative tension whereby we reached it.

From The Complex Vision by Powys, John Cowper