overstrain
verb
over·strain
ˌō-vər-ˈstrān 
overstrained; overstraining
: to strain (someone or something) beyond a maximum tolerable limit
overstrained herself on the treadmill
overstrain a muscle
overstrained the steel, which developed a crack
He said every nerve had been overstrained in some way, and the whole system must sleep torpid a while.—
Charlotte Brontë
Charlotte Brontë… officials said the aid would be focused only on its banking sector … That would be crucial to avoid overstraining the eurozone's rescue funds …—Luke Baker and Annika Breidthardt
Luke Baker and Annika BreidthardtShe doesn't overstrain the metaphor …—Mark O'Connell
Mark O'Connell
overstrain
noun
muscles suffering from overstrain
Examples of overstrain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The film lingers because of the cumulative power of its images; the delicacy with which suffering is conveyed without overstraining for the truth.
—Hazlitt, 27 Oct. 2022
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.
Hazlitt, 27 Oct. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Overstrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overstrain. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
overstrain
noun
over·strain
-ˈstrān
: excessive mental or physical strain
also
: a condition resulting from this
overstrain
verb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share