1
: done or produced with excessive effort
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
But not Hochman, whose strained diplomacy has raised eyebrows.
—
Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025
The story of Mbappe’s move to the Bernabeu last summer and his strained relations with PSG could fill several tomes, given the intensity of Madrid’s almost decade-long pursuit of the forward — and the fallout continues to this day.
—Adam Crafton, New York Times, 8 July 2025
Ties between Beijing and Brussels appeared increasingly strained, just weeks before a high-profile summit.
—semafor.com, 4 July 2025
What to know about Webb's letter to Meharry Several board members repeatedly mentioned concerns about the strained relationship between Webb and Meharry.
—Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for strained
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Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025
The story of Mbappe’s move to the Bernabeu last summer and his strained relations with PSG could fill several tomes, given the intensity of Madrid’s almost decade-long pursuit of the forward — and the fallout continues to this day.
—Adam Crafton, New York Times, 8 July 2025
Ties between Beijing and Brussels appeared increasingly strained, just weeks before a high-profile summit.
—semafor.com, 4 July 2025
What to know about Webb's letter to Meharry Several board members repeatedly mentioned concerns about the strained relationship between Webb and Meharry.
—Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 2 July 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 16 Jul. 2025.
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