strain 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈstrān How to pronounce strain (audio)
Definition of strainnext
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
as in melody
a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect the strain of an old Irish ballad rose up from the revelers downstairs

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

strain

2 of 3

noun (2)

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

strain

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to pull
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure in order to lift something heavy, squat down and lift with your legs, or you'll strain your back

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to filter
to pass through a filter better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in to tighten
to draw tight the dog strained its leash trying to get to the cat

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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.
Recent Examples of strain
Noun
In 2012, 10 people contracted the Sin Nombre strain after staying overnight at Yosemite National Park in California. —Aria Bendix, NBC news, 12 May 2026 The former Gonzaga standout suffered a season-ending injury during a game in December after sustaining a Grade 2 right calf strain in the first quarter of the Grizzlies' home game against the Washington Wizards. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Verb
The oil bottleneck has driven up the price of crude, straining the state's supply chain. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 6 May 2026 If your summer vacation budget is straining under inflated gas prices and airfare, these deals may provide relief. —Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for strain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strain
  1. pull
  2. filter
  3. struggle
  4. drip
  5. stretch
  6. tighten
  7. hug
  8. damage
Verb
  • The weeds can be pulled, hoed or treated with herbicides that permit use near trees.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2026
  • The coach also pulled small groups of challenging students out of Lignore’s class to teach them social and emotional skills and helped Lignore make and consistently use behavior charts with her students.
    — Stacker, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Definition of pull
Verb
  • Corridor noise can filter in through the door, while balcony dividers offer little acoustic protection when others are outside.
    — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
  • Once inside, visitors were encouraged to urinate in two onsite toilets which filter and pump sanitized water back into a large aquarium tank where performers float for four hours at a time, breathing through a scuba mask.
    — Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
Definition of filter
Verb
  • In April, Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo proved to be an effective outlet as Chelsea struggled to cope with their pace.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 13 May 2026
  • Family members said Ross is still struggling with memory gaps and emotional distress following her detention.
    — Jade le Deley, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Definition of struggle
Verb
  • Eating a cold slice of cantaloupe over a kitchen sink, its juices dripping down your forearms, is one of summer’s greatest pleasures.
    — Janet McCracken, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 May 2026
  • Also featured on the summer menu will be a new Unicorn Cake Pop, featuring vanilla cake mixed with confetti sprinkles, dripped in white chocolate icing and decorated with a unicorn face.
    — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Definition of drip
Verb
  • The Moon in Capricorn moves through your 3rd House, opposing Jupiter in your 9th, stretching the gap between details and interpretation.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 May 2026
  • San Antonio stretched its lead to as many as 47 points on the way to leveling the series at one game apiece.
    — Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Definition of stretch
Verb
  • McBride scored 13 of her 18 points in the first quarter before the Dream defense tightened on her.
    — Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 10 May 2026
  • The government has methodically tightened internet censorship and established increasingly stringent controls over online activities, causing rumblings and rare public expressions of discontent.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 May 2026
Definition of tighten
Verb
  • For background, photos showed Russini and Vrabel hugging and holding hands at a private resort in Arizona last month.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
  • Instead of opting for a body-hugging gown, Kim Kardashian went wore a bright orange metallic body plate from the ’60s designed by Allen Jones.
    — Beatrice Dupuy, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026
Definition of hug
Verb
  • In a sane world, Congress would put a stop to it and reassert its own power to regulate import duties; unfortunately, this particular GOP Congress seems content enough to be a lapdog watching Trump usurp them and damage the economy and our international standing.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 May 2026
  • Conducting a soil test will eliminate the guesswork when choosing the right type and amount of fertilizer for your trees, as using too much fertilizer or the incorrect type can severely damage them.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 10 May 2026
Definition of damage

Browse Nearby Words

straightway
strain
strained
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Strain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strain. Accessed 13 May. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on strain

Nglish: Translation of strain for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about strain

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of rectify

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Regarding the Incorrect Use of 'Decimate'

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Financial Words With Surprising Origins

Strange Words for Body Functions

Where does 'curiosity killed the cat' come from?

The Words of the Week - May 8

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

9 Financial Words With Surprising Origins

Strange Words for Body Functions
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
swan-with-a-cygnet
Quiz: Match the Baby Animal to Its Mama Prove you're the best of the nest.
See All