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
Free throws from Trey Murphy III and Saddiq Bey sealed the deal for New Orleans, who were playing without star Zion Williamson, who is scheduled to miss at least a week with a strained hamstring.
—
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
In 2024, the commission passed a property tax freeze, although that move strained public services in the 2025 year.
—Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Rookie first-round draft pick Nique Clifford has been upgraded to questionable after missing the past four games with a strained right hamstring.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Father Mother Sister Brother tells the story of estranged siblings who reunite after years apart and are forced to confront unresolved tensions and reevaluate their strained relationships with their emotionally distant parents.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strained
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Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
In 2024, the commission passed a property tax freeze, although that move strained public services in the 2025 year.
—Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Rookie first-round draft pick Nique Clifford has been upgraded to questionable after missing the past four games with a strained right hamstring.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Father Mother Sister Brother tells the story of estranged siblings who reunite after years apart and are forced to confront unresolved tensions and reevaluate their strained relationships with their emotionally distant parents.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 31 Oct. 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 9 Nov. 2025.
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