Synonyms of strain

strain 1 of 3

noun (1)

1

as in lineage

the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended

descended from a strain of Irish seafarers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lineage
• ancestry
• pedigree
• breeding
• origin
• family
• blood
• genealogy
• descent
• extraction
• stock
• parentage
• birth
• line
• bloodline
• family tree
• relations
• heredity
• succession
• race
• relatives
• house
• kin
• kindred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• issue
• seed
• progeny
• offspring
• posterity
• child
• son
• heir
• successor
• inheritor

See More

• issue
• seed
• progeny
• offspring
• posterity
• child
• son
• heir
• successor
• inheritor

See More

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

• melody
• song
• tune
• air
• warble
• lay
• hymn
• lyric
• rhythm
• cadence
• ballad
• discant
• meter
• measure
• ditty
• descant
• madrigal

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

• shred
• splash
• glimmer
• hint
• touch
• sprinkling
• speck
• bit
• little
• lick
• trace
• spark
• tad
• dab
• suspicion
• pinch
• particle
• streak
• smack
• ray
• ounce
• handful
• mite
• smell
• minimum
• spatter
• smidgen
• dram
• peanuts
• sliver
• scruple
• smidge
• smidgeon
• portion
• ace
• dose
• drop
• drop in the bucket
• nip
• shade
• smidgin
• fleck
• shadow
• crumb
• scintilla
• spot
• grain
• dash
• driblet
• syllable
• soupçon
• bite
• skosh
• taste
• snap
• molecule
• part
• fragment
• atom
• patch
• mote
• modicum
• vestige
• semblance
• whit
• iota
• splinter
• section
• dot
• minim
• granule
• jot
• scattering
• nibble
• morsel
• flake
• scrap
• shiver
• flyspeck
• hoot
• chip
• smattering
• nubbin
• shard
• tittle
• clipping
• tatter
• shaving
• paring
• smatter
• smithereens
• shot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• quantity
• mountain
• loads
• abundance
• mass
• deal
• pile
• mess
• wealth
• bundle
• lot
• bucket
• plenty
• barrel
• raft
• stack
• volume
• profusion
• heaps
• wad
• gobs
• bushel
• peck
• excess
• boatload
• reams
• fistful
• oodles
• surplus
• passel
• scads
• lashings
• embarrassment
• potful
• much
• overflow
• lashins
• overabundance
• slab
• superabundance
• overkill
• oversupply
• bonanza
• surfeit
• overmuch
• overage
• superfluity
• chunk
• lump
• hunk

See More

• quantity
• mountain
• loads
• abundance
• mass
• deal
• pile
• mess
• wealth
• bundle
• lot
• bucket
• plenty
• barrel
• raft
• stack
• volume
• profusion
• heaps
• wad
• gobs
• bushel
• peck
• excess
• boatload
• reams
• fistful
• oodles
• surplus
• passel
• scads
• lashings
• embarrassment
• potful
• much
• overflow
• lashins
• overabundance
• slab
• superabundance
• overkill
• oversupply
• bonanza
• surfeit
• overmuch
• overage
• superfluity
• chunk
• lump
• hunk

See More

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

• type
• kind
• sort
• stripe
• genre
• breed
• variety
• nature
• kidney
• species
• description
• class
• manner
• feather
• order
• persuasion
• like
• ilk
• model
• specimen
• family
• category
• sample
• group
• grouping
• bracket
• set
• grade
• division
• suite
• lot
• bunch
• rank(s)

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

• stress
• pressure
• tension
• load
• worry
• anxiety
• concern
• weight
• anger
• irritation
• trouble
• persecution
• uneasiness
• aggravation
• exasperation
• annoyance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• comfort
• consolation

• comfort
• consolation

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

• pull
• damage
• hurt
• stretch
• weaken
• bruise
• rack
• tax
• wrench
• tear
• wound
• fray
• impair
• harm
• cripple
• batter
• lame
• mutilate
• mangle

2

as in to filter

to pass through a filter

better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out

Synonyms & Similar Words

• filter
• screen
• leach
• percolate

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

• struggle
• labor
• strive
• work
• sweat
• endeavor
• toil
• tug
• slave
• try
• plow
• hustle
• dig (away)
• plug
• hump
• bang away
• travail
• beaver (away)
• drudge
• sweat blood
• peg (away)
• grub
• apply (oneself)
• plod
• fag
• slog
• buckle (down)
• attack
• exert
• moil
• pitch in
• exercise
• overwork
• scratch
• hammer (away)
• essay
• drive
• knuckle down
• grind (out)
• dig in
• eke out
• overexert
• put out
• wade
• trudge
• scrabble

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• break
• slacken
• ease (up)
• chill
• hang (around or out)
• bum
• let up
• rest
• idle
• slack (off)
• lounge
• relax
• goof (off)
• shirk
• hack (around)
• loaf
• unwind
• laze
• repose
• play
• veg out
• bask
• hang
• trifle
• loll
• goldbrick
• footle
• fool around
• dillydally
• goof (around)
• hang about
• dally
• mess around
• dabble
• monkey (around)
• doodle
• potter (around)
• putter (around)
• fribble

See More

• break
• slacken
• ease (up)
• chill
• hang (around or out)
• bum
• let up
• rest
• idle
• slack (off)
• lounge
• relax
• goof (off)
• shirk
• hack (around)
• loaf
• unwind
• laze
• repose
• play
• veg out
• bask
• hang
• trifle
• loll
• goldbrick
• footle
• fool around
• dillydally
• goof (around)
• hang about
• dally
• mess around
• dabble
• monkey (around)
• doodle
• potter (around)
• putter (around)
• fribble

See More

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

• drip
• flow
• seep
• sweat
• ooze
• percolate
• bleed
• exude
• weep
• transude
• trickle
• emanate
• dribble
• give off
• spring
• emit
• vent
• discharge

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stream
• pour
• flood
• surge
• gush

• stream
• pour
• flood
• surge
• gush

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

• stretch
• try
• test
• push
• get (to)
• tax
• pressure
• bother
• annoy
• pain
• irritate
• demand
• spite
• exact
• aggravate
• exasperate
• harass
• hassle
• press
• irk
• gnaw (at)
• grate
• gall
• vex
• importune
• rile
• harry
• pester
• agitate
• nettle
• peeve

6

as in to tighten

to draw tight

the dog strained its leash trying to get to the cat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tighten
• tense
• stretch
• tauten
• elongate
• lengthen
• extend
• constrict
• cinch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loosen
• ease
• relax
• slack
• slacken

• loosen
• ease
• relax
• slack
• slacken

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

• hug
• clasp
• cradle
• cling
• crush
• embrace
• grasp
• wrap
• grab
• hold
• enfold
• grip
• clamp
• enclasp
• bear-hug
• bosom
• fold
• envelop
• pat
• lock
• stroke
• snuggle
• entwine
• pet
• encircle
• embosom
• twine
• cuddle
• nestle
• enwind
• nuzzle
• fondle