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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Examples 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
Laura Kelly, The Hill, 27 Nov. 2024
The left-hander flashed glimpses of his Cy Young form but made just seven starts due to a left hamstring strain.
—Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2024
Maria Snegovaya, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024
Libra September 23 – October 22 Keeping a secret could presently strain you.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 24 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for strain 
Noun
Miller dismissed the notion that Trump swung the momentum of the deal, saying strain on Israel’s military pushed Netanyahu to finally come to an agreement.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 27 Nov. 2024
The left-hander flashed glimpses of his Cy Young form but made just seven starts due to a left hamstring strain.
—Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
For centuries, their relationship has been strained, and for good reason.
—Maria Snegovaya, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024
Libra September 23 – October 22 Keeping a secret could presently strain you.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 24 Nov. 2024
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
-
Noise-cancellation and transparency settings filter out just enough background noise to help your giftee focus, while four pairs of silicone tips ensure a perfect fit.Sarah Felbin, SELF, 23 Nov. 2024
-
The restaurant is named for a park in Boulud’s hometown of Lyon, France, and the menu features classic steakhouse dishes filtered through Boulud’s refined approach.Kristen Tauer, WWD, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Some struggle to make it through the hot humid weather but most wither away.Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 30 Nov. 2024
-
The story centers on a struggling father named Nick (Michele Morrone) who purchases a sim named Alice (Megan Fox, who shines in a role like this) to help care for his children while his wife, Maggie (Madeline Zima), battles a life-threatening heart condition.Travis Bean, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Maximus bellowed at the crowd, his voice dripping with irony.David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2024
-
The sandwich drips with a red gochujang glaze, which gets balanced with a little sweetness in crunch thanks to a sesame slaw.Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
If placed in a line, these cookies would stretch nearly the distance of a flight from New York LaGuardia to Charlotte.Ted Reed, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
-
Each fully private suite will stretch the length of five aircraft windows (!!) and incorporate three different seating zones: an upright seat, a chaise lounge, and a lie-flat bed.Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
That’s partly because regulations are being tightened around the world, putting pressure on businesses to improve their analytics and reporting.Trevor Clawson, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
-
The rules were tightened a year later to close loopholes that still allowed Chinese firms to access some advanced chips.Will Knight, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Her Girls Aloud bandmates Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts were also in attendance as the singer was laid to rest, and both were seen hugging Payne’s ex-bandmate Harry Styles.Rachel DeSantis, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
-
That also means this is the last time this specific group will fight as a team, and the locker room scene before the last match is pretty wholesome: All beefs are set aside, with Demetri and Eli finally apologizing and hugging it out.Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
The Russian Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday that Ukraine had fired six ATACMS missiles at the facility in Bryansk, claiming five of the missiles were shot down and the sixth was damaged.Lauren Kent, CNN, 20 Nov. 2024
-
Over 3,400 schools and hospitals have been damaged or destroyed, while 10 million people have fled their homes.Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near strain
Cite this Entry
“Strain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strain. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share