1
as in lineage
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
descended from a strain of Irish seafarers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in shred
a very small amount
detected a strain of panic in her voice when she asked if the substance was poisonous
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in type
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common
writes mystery novels of a more sophisticated strain
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in stress
the burden on one's emotional or mental well-being created by demands on one's time
the family's constant moving is putting a real strain on the children
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
3
as in to struggle
to devote serious and sustained effort
the whole department is straining to complete the project before the deadline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to drip
to flow forth slowly through small openings
put the cooked fruit in a cheesecloth bag and let the juice strain into a pan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to stretch
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
strained her memory but the name just wouldn't come to her
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6
7
as in to hug
to put one's arms around and press tightly
the woman tenderly strained to her breast the child that she had long ago given up for dead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strain
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
But Lively’s lawsuit against It Ends With Us collaborator Justin Baldoni dragged her texts with Swift into the public narrative and appeared to put a strain on the friendship.
—
Kase Wickman,
Vanity Fair,
25 June 2026
Jennifer McDermott,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
Together, that has strained its finances and politics, with Britain’s historical two-party system fracturing into a patchwork of increasingly tribal alliances and factions.
—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for strain
Noun
The strain shows elsewhere too.
—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
But Lively’s lawsuit against It Ends With Us collaborator Justin Baldoni dragged her texts with Swift into the public narrative and appeared to put a strain on the friendship.
—
Kase Wickman,
Vanity Fair,
25 June 2026
Verb
The water supply is already strained by the growing population, longer dry periods and more extreme heat driven by climate change.
—
Jennifer McDermott,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
Together, that has strained its finances and politics, with Britain’s historical two-party system fracturing into a patchwork of increasingly tribal alliances and factions.
—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for strain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strain
Noun
-
That lineage become a source of attention and scorn for the 33-year-old first time candidate, who created what critics called out as a sometimes outlandish social media personality to generate attention.
-
The fit and finish are impressive for a first-gen device from a company with no lineage in audio hardware.
Noun
-
The tempo is jagged and slow, and O’Farrill only teases out the melody throughout as if to question the jubilance of the original.
-
From the streets to the sheets, West Coast prodigy Blxst has turned his pain and passion into profit by masterfully blending melodies with bars.
Noun
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The rest of the band followed his lead, particularly Green, a relentless head-banger, dropping to her knees to become one with the feedback and leaning back into beatific shred-faces.
-
There's one day left of food in the fridge, a flood in the basement, a hole in the ceiling and a group of people who are clinging to the last shreds of hope for the future.
Noun
-
Peter Gendelman, a Caesarea region expert from the IAA, said the discovery was the first of its kind in roughly three decades.
-
Lands’ statement gives no indication of how NPS officials concluded the liner was cut using a knife of some kind.
Noun
-
The water amplifies the vibrations, helping stress and negative thoughts disappear.
-
Everyday activities such as walking, running or lifting weights place stress on the skeleton.
Verb
-
This seasonal turn pulls you toward a time of reflection.
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To pull it off, the show’s creative team had to build a rock star from the ground up, crafting a visual identity, creating music that could stand on its own outside the series, and transforming Reid into a performer capable of owning a crowd rather than simply acting in front of one.
Verb
-
Selective attention is the way your brain focuses on important information while filtering out unnecessary information.
-
Borehole water is filtered through a reverse-osmosis system, eliminating the need for plastic bottles.
Verb
-
In addition, composters are struggling with the amount of plastic and other debris that people and businesses put in the food waste bins.
-
Cristiano Ronaldo looks to be in top form after struggling in his World Cup opener, scoring two goals already today.
Cite this Entry
“Strain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strain. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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