strained

adjective

ˈstrānd 

1

: done or produced with excessive effort

a strained smile

2

: pushed by antagonism near to open conflict

strained relations

Synonyms of strained

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

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

Witt returned to action after missing six games with a strained right knee and went 1 for 3 as the Royals’ designated hitter. — Kansas City Star, 27 June 2026

Then there’s the risk of higher frustration and strained relationships across an organization. — Kamya Elawadhi, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Wildfire season is just beginning in the West, but firefighting resources are already strained following a windstorm last week that sent flames racing through Great Basin states mired in drought. — Evan Bush, NBC news, 2 July 2026

Procurement delays, fragmented national programs, labor shortages, and strained supply chains are raising doubts over how quickly Europe can rebuild an industrial base that has been hollowed out from decades of lower defense spending. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 1 July 2026

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