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
Fuel subsidies threaten to blow a hole in Jakarta’s already strained budget.
—
Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Data centers have sparked backlash from communities across the state that are worried about higher utility bills, strained power grids and water being diverted away from families to cool servers at massive data centers.
—Brendan Steinhauser, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
The Church of the Holy Speluchre has historically remained open to clergy even during major crises, including past wars and pandemics, making Palm Sunday’s restriction a rare flashpoint in already strained relations between Israel and the Vatican.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 30 Mar. 2026
For their part, private law firms told the Tribune their work is critical in defending the strained city budget against people who may be seeking an undeserved payout.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
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.
Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Data centers have sparked backlash from communities across the state that are worried about higher utility bills, strained power grids and water being diverted away from families to cool servers at massive data centers.
—Brendan Steinhauser, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
The Church of the Holy Speluchre has historically remained open to clergy even during major crises, including past wars and pandemics, making Palm Sunday’s restriction a rare flashpoint in already strained relations between Israel and the Vatican.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 30 Mar. 2026
For their part, private law firms told the Tribune their work is critical in defending the strained city budget against people who may be seeking an undeserved payout.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
Cite this Entry
“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strained. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
