as in unnatural
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
I took the complaint manager's strained smile to mean I wasn't a welcome sight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pulled
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 filtered
to pass through a filter
better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in labored
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 dripped
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 stretched
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 hugged
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 strained
Arkansas Online, 3 Sep. 2025
However, Singleton told Newsweek that parade pageantry won't solve the PLA's problems, including corruption, leadership purges, strained campaign logistics, and weak command and control.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Adam Verner
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
But that relationship is starting to get strained.
—Avital Pardo, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strained
Adjective
The fed report said that agriculture conditions have remained strained but stable.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Sep. 2025
However, Singleton told Newsweek that parade pageantry won't solve the PLA's problems, including corruption, leadership purges, strained campaign logistics, and weak command and control.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
My voice strained in a half-whisper.
—Adam Verner
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
But that relationship is starting to get strained.
—Avital Pardo, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strained
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strained
Adjective
-
In its world premiere, SECOND NATURE challenges the notion that queerness is unnatural, by turning to nature itself — and the science that dismantles the myth of the gender binary.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Stories abound in folklore of the unnatural taking the place of the natural.—
Adam Verner
September 3,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Mahomes pulled the Chiefs within one in the third quarter.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The drawstring waist is adjustable and has a stretchy waistband for improved comfort even when pulled tight.—
Anne Taylor,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Background noise is consistently filtered out so the speaker's voice can be heard more clearly.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
As the moon is covered by the inner part of Earth's shadow during the eclipse, sunlight not blocked by Earth is filtered through a thick slice of Earth's atmosphere before reaching the moon's surface, NASA explained.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Some of the works would be labored over and over and over again.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
-
But that’s not why Fastvold and Corbet — who as directors have now had two features each in competition in Venice — labored over the film.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Tyler Andrew Riddle dripped with charisma and smarts.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Minneapolis community mourns after deadly shooting Tears dripped down cheeks as mourners wrote messages at a memorial Wednesday following a deadly shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Barely any other media in recent times has given me an instant shock of glee or revulsion like this absurd anarcho-cartoon being stretched and squeezed to its most grotesque and wholesome clickbait limits.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Dizon & Truong had to play last weeks’ Japan Open champions Yufei Long & Ting Chieh Wei in the quarters before getting stretched to a third game by two of Australia’s best in Nicola Schoeman and Danni-Elle Townsend in the semis.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Manhattan's overall availability rate fell to 15%, the lowest since January 2021 and the 18th consecutive month that its availability rate remained stable or tightened.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Lawmakers also recently tightened the state’s background check requirements.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
During the ovation, Benny Safdie — the film’s director — hugged both his stars and joined Johnson in shedding tears of joy as the clapping continued.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
1 Sep. 2025
-
In July, they were spotted on a date night in Lake Como, Italy, with Amal sporting a sparkly one-shoulder dress that hugged her figure with matching strappy heels, while the actor wore a dapper navy blue suit jacket and matching trousers.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strained. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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