1
: done or produced with excessive effort
a strained smile
2
: pushed by antagonism near to open conflict
strained relations
Examples of strained in a Sentence
He made a strained attempt at being polite.
I took the complaint manager's strained smile to mean I wasn't a welcome sight.
Recent Examples on the Web
In 2009, after years of strained relations between SSPX and the Holy See, Pope Benedict XVI remitted the 1988 excommunications as a step toward healing the rift.
—
Noah Labelle,
NPR,
2 July 2026
Wildfire season is just beginning in the West, but firefighting resources are already strained following a windstorm last week that sent flames racing through Great Basin states mired in drought.
—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
2 July 2026
Officials report at least 2,295 dead and more than 11,000 injured, while thousands crowd shelters or sleep outside as doctors warn of untreated wounds and spreading disease in a strained system.
—
Regina Garcia Cano,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2026
Then there’s the risk of higher frustration and strained relationships across an organization.
—
Kamya Elawadhi,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
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Noah Labelle,
NPR,
2 July 2026
Wildfire season is just beginning in the West, but firefighting resources are already strained following a windstorm last week that sent flames racing through Great Basin states mired in drought.
—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
2 July 2026
Officials report at least 2,295 dead and more than 11,000 injured, while thousands crowd shelters or sleep outside as doctors warn of untreated wounds and spreading disease in a strained system.
—
Regina Garcia Cano,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2026
Then there’s the risk of higher frustration and strained relationships across an organization.
—
Kamya Elawadhi,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
Cite this Entry
“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strained. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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