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
Tess is the other violin, anxious and strained and full of unresolved hurt; Jon, the sweet, warm viola, always supporting, his identity built around harmony.
—
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
According to the outlet, Princess Beatrice, 37, has remained close to her mother amid the turmoil of the scandal, but her bond with her father is more strained.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
His availability for the Jayhawks’ 80-60 victory over the Tigers at T-Mobile Center had nothing to do, however, with the strained hamstring that had forced the freshman sensation to miss seven of KU’s first nine games.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 7 Dec. 2025
Paolo Banchero returned from a 10-game absence with a strained groin and posted nine points and six rebounds in 20 minutes.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strained
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Sara Holdren, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
According to the outlet, Princess Beatrice, 37, has remained close to her mother amid the turmoil of the scandal, but her bond with her father is more strained.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
His availability for the Jayhawks’ 80-60 victory over the Tigers at T-Mobile Center had nothing to do, however, with the strained hamstring that had forced the freshman sensation to miss seven of KU’s first nine games.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 7 Dec. 2025
Paolo Banchero returned from a 10-game absence with a strained groin and posted nine points and six rebounds in 20 minutes.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strained
Cite this Entry
“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strained. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
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