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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strain
Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
The bloc’s expansion also has added strains.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 11 May 2026
On energy and technology, a measure called the POWER Act would require data centers — whose power demands have strained the electric grid — to draw from local renewable sources and meet new water and electricity reporting requirements.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for strain
Noun
New divisions test global ambitions The bloc’s expansion also has added strains.
—Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
The bloc’s expansion also has added strains.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
Verb
Doing so, though, has required additional documentation for each case and strained an already overstretched workforce, leading to delays in approving benefits.
—Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 11 May 2026
On energy and technology, a measure called the POWER Act would require data centers — whose power demands have strained the electric grid — to draw from local renewable sources and meet new water and electricity reporting requirements.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for strain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strain
Noun
-
His grandson, Jack Schlossberg, who is running for Congress, never hesitates to remind audiences of his lineage.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
-
This led Damsgaard’s team to conclude that the oxygen-free tissue likely evolved sometime during the dinosaur era, after the avian lineage had split from crocodiles but hadn’t yet evolved into modern birds.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Consisting of jamesjamesjames, Varg²™, Eurohead, and Skarp, the outfit nakedly endeavors to reappraise the richly earnest sounds of 2010s Swedish EDM, known for its pointillistic, high-octave melodies and counterpoints that, at their best, imbue big-room propulsion with butterflies in the stomach.—
Nathan Evans,
Pitchfork,
12 May 2026
-
The plaintive melodies are mournful yet comforting.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Tradwives are delivering the last shreds of domestic privacy, intimacy, and pleasure directly into the hands of late-stage capitalism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 May 2026
-
As this sequence plays out, the social fabric further shreds and unravels; trust circles shrink and become ever more homogeneous; and hostility, mean spiritedness, and a general hardening take hold in society.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Experts say carrying unresolved trauma and stress over time can affect both mental and physical health.—
Nicky Zizaza,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
-
Under oxidative stress, harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) directly damage cellular DNA, causing cells to age prematurely.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
11 May 2026
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
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
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Strain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strain. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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