1
as in lineage
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
descended from a strain of Irish seafarers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in shred
a very small amount
detected a strain of panic in her voice when she asked if the substance was poisonous
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in type
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common
writes mystery novels of a more sophisticated strain
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in stress
the burden on one's emotional or mental well-being created by demands on one's time
the family's constant moving is putting a real strain on the children
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
3
as in to struggle
to devote serious and sustained effort
the whole department is straining to complete the project before the deadline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to drip
to flow forth slowly through small openings
put the cooked fruit in a cheesecloth bag and let the juice strain into a pan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to stretch
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
strained her memory but the name just wouldn't come to her
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
7
as in to hug
to put one's arms around and press tightly
the woman tenderly strained to her breast the child that she had long ago given up for dead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of strain
Sudip Kar-Gupta, USA Today, 23 June 2026
Bacteria carrying resistance genes survive; susceptible strains do not.
—Robert Glatter, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Jennifer McDermott, Fortune, 23 June 2026
Together, that has strained its finances and politics, with Britain’s historical two-party system fracturing into a patchwork of increasingly tribal alliances and factions.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for strain
Noun
Disruption to transport Transport networks across Europe came under strain.
—Sudip Kar-Gupta, USA Today, 23 June 2026
Bacteria carrying resistance genes survive; susceptible strains do not.
—Robert Glatter, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Verb
The water supply is already strained by the growing population, longer dry periods and more extreme heat driven by climate change.
—Jennifer McDermott, Fortune, 23 June 2026
Together, that has strained its finances and politics, with Britain’s historical two-party system fracturing into a patchwork of increasingly tribal alliances and factions.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for strain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strain
Noun
-
That lineage become a source of attention and scorn for the 33-year-old first time candidate, who created what critics called out as a sometimes outlandish social media personality to generate attention.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
-
The fit and finish are impressive for a first-gen device from a company with no lineage in audio hardware.—
Brad Bourque,
The Verge,
23 June 2026
Noun
-
Don’t even pay much attention to the heavenly pop melody.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
In some ways, Foreign Tongues is an improvement on Hackney Diamonds, in that the latter occasionally sounded a little too much like a Jagger solo record in its emphasis on vocal melodies; this one feels more guitar-centric and holistically Stones-y.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Trump’s appreciation for and emulation of the histrionics of that sport have been much discussed over the years—recall how the late Hulk Hogan ripped his shirt to shreds at the 2024 Republican National Convention to reveal a TRUMP VANCE T-shirt underneath.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
-
The industry has been keeping a close eye on what Koosha and his producer Tom Rogers have been doing — namely, conjuring a movie out of thin air without a single shred of an actor, location, crew member or camera.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
This one-of-a-kind woman heads the collection founded in its day by Emile Hermès (1871–1951)—an extraordinary cabinet of curiosities whose doors are occasionally opened to a select few on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.—
Pierre Groppo,
Vanity Fair,
19 June 2026
-
Earlier this year, Moderna’s data was at the center of a highly unusual public dispute as a then-top FDA official blocked the company’s application for its first-of-its-kind shot.—
Lauran Neergaard,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
The water amplifies the vibrations, helping stress and negative thoughts disappear.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
-
Everyday activities such as walking, running or lifting weights place stress on the skeleton.—
Priya Bhardwaj,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
Verb
-
This seasonal turn pulls you toward a time of reflection.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
-
To pull it off, the show’s creative team had to build a rock star from the ground up, crafting a visual identity, creating music that could stand on its own outside the series, and transforming Reid into a performer capable of owning a crowd rather than simply acting in front of one.—
Precious Fondren,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
Selective attention is the way your brain focuses on important information while filtering out unnecessary information.—
Sarah Bradley,
Health,
21 June 2026
-
Borehole water is filtered through a reverse-osmosis system, eliminating the need for plastic bottles.—
Sarah Kingdom,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
In addition, composters are struggling with the amount of plastic and other debris that people and businesses put in the food waste bins.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
-
Cristiano Ronaldo looks to be in top form after struggling in his World Cup opener, scoring two goals already today.—
Monica Alba,
NBC news,
24 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strain. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
