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
The rickshaws have become increasingly popular in Sierra Leone, filling the gaps in a strained public transport system as the West African country struggles to recover from its 1991-2002 civil war.
—
ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
The band’s courtesy visit was a pleasant break for Japan’s first female leader, known for her long working hours and now struggling with strained diplomatic ties with China, the fallouts from the war in the Middle East as well as rising prices at home.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
As the Middle East ceasefire agreement remains strained, oil prices stayed elevated on Friday.
—Sarah Min,sean Conlon,hugh Leask, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
That can be troublesome as consumers are grappling with higher grocery prices and strained budgets.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
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ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
The band’s courtesy visit was a pleasant break for Japan’s first female leader, known for her long working hours and now struggling with strained diplomatic ties with China, the fallouts from the war in the Middle East as well as rising prices at home.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
As the Middle East ceasefire agreement remains strained, oil prices stayed elevated on Friday.
—Sarah Min,sean Conlon,hugh Leask, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
That can be troublesome as consumers are grappling with higher grocery prices and strained budgets.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 10 Apr. 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 11 Apr. 2026.
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