strained

adjective

ˈstrānd 

1

: done or produced with excessive effort

2

: pushed by antagonism near to open conflict

strained relations

Synonyms

• unnatural
• mock
• affected
• forced
• exaggerated
• false
• artificial
• fake
• simulated
• mechanical
• contrived
• pseudo
• assumed

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

There has been a gradual normalization of ties between India and China in recent months after relations were deeply strained in June 2020, when a brutal hand-to-hand battle in the Galwan Valley left at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead. —Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 24 July 2025

The Taliban’s strained relationships with Iran and Pakistan further complicate reintegration efforts. —Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025

Indian filmmakers and distributors have long had a strained relationship with India’s censor authority, the Central Board of Film Certification. —Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 16 July 2025

This was the first joint US-Russian human spaceflight mission, laying the foundation for a strained but enduring partnership on the International Space Station. —ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for strained

• abstained
• arraigned
• attained
• bloodstained
• campaigned
• complained
• constrained
• contained
• curtained
• detained
• disdained
• distrained

Kids Definition

strained

adjective

ˈstrānd 

1

: not easy or natural : forced

a strained smile

2

: brought close to war

strained relations between countries