strain 1 of 3

1
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

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3
4

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

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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

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

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3
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

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5
6
as in to tighten
to draw tight the dog strained its leash trying to get to the cat

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7

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
That news came just days after a separate source told PEOPLE that Bloom and Perry had experienced strain in their relationship amid the release of her latest album 143. Charna Flam, People.com, 26 June 2025 Anthony Davis, the main piece in Dallas’ return for Doncic, suffered an adductor strain in his first game after the trade, while Kyrie Irving, who became the Mavs’ primary point guard, suffered a torn ACL. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 26 June 2025
Verb
And for those who lack it—or who want to minimize their bill and strain on the power grid—there are other ways to help keep a home relatively cool. Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 24 June 2025 Some locals in Venice, which has dealt with overtourism that has strained the city’s infrastructure and services for years, have staged protests over concerns the wedding’s scale will worsen some of the issues created by excessive tourist crowds. Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for strain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strain
Verb
  • Brands began to pull together resources to support refugees.
    Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
  • The 13-minute performance will likely call for a healthy dose of vibrant, colored lighting to pull it all together.
    Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 10 Feb. 2023
Verb
  • Mocktails, juices, a self-serve soda station, specialty coffees, and filtered water stations round out the options.
    Paul Rubio, AFAR Media, 23 June 2025
  • Thoughtfully human moments are filtered through surrealist imagery and ventriloquist dolls.
    Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • On offense, the Red Sox have predictably struggled without Devers’ bat in the lineup.
    Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • If the mention of Luxembourg conjures visions of banks, European institutions and a vague whiff of royalty, most people struggle to place the tiny country on a map.
    Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • But a special energy crackles in the grandstands when a hitter who drips with danger steps to the plate.
    Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 18 June 2025
  • The liquid caught on his glasses and dripped into his eyes.
    E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
Verb
  • In short, four prominent celestial objects — the moon, a bright planet and two bright stars — stretched out across a little more than a dozen degrees of the west-northwest sky.
    Joe Rao, Space.com, 24 June 2025
  • Focused on beginner-friendly culinary techniques, Max teaches readers how to make infused butter, oil and milk, and how to stretch flower effectively.
    Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • The Trump Card would also arrive as many countries once favored by the wealthy — including Spain, Portugal and Italy — are tightening their investment-visa programs amid populist opposition and political backlash.
    Robert Frank, CNBC, 26 June 2025
  • Many in Iran and abroad now fear the country’s leadership – its pride and defenses wounded – may tighten its grip at home while adopting a much more hawkish stance in both domestic and foreign policy.
    Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Guardiola has always traditionally asked for his two wingers to provide the width for the team but that started to change at times last season, with the full-backs hugging the touchline.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 30 June 2025
  • Aaron Paul and pal, Chef Michael Mina, hug it out at the one-year anniversary of Bourbon Steak in New York.
    Grace Harrington, People.com, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2025
  • But opponents contend that industrial animal agriculture actually jeopardizes food security, by damaging local ecosystems, undermining traditional agricultural practices, and intensifying climate harms.
    Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Strain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strain. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

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