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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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of strained
CBS News, 22 June 2025
His circle of friends, including Edna, had come to the city to shed strained or difficult pasts.
—John Birdsall
june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
Rick Stroud, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
In 2021, the PSD and the PNL also formed an unlikely but increasingly strained coalition together with UDMR, which exited the Cabinet last year after a power-sharing dispute.
—Stephen McGrath and Vadim Ghirda, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for strained
Adjective
Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who had been playing with a strained calf, went down in the second quarter of the game with what the team called a right lower leg injury.
—CBS News, 22 June 2025
His circle of friends, including Edna, had come to the city to shed strained or difficult pasts.
—John Birdsall
june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
Verb
Receiver Sterling Shepard strained a hamstring Sunday.
—Rick Stroud, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
In 2021, the PSD and the PNL also formed an unlikely but increasingly strained coalition together with UDMR, which exited the Cabinet last year after a power-sharing dispute.
—Stephen McGrath and Vadim Ghirda, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for strained
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strained
Adjective
-
Because the bear started seeking out an unnatural food source, it was euthanized for safety reasons, officials said.—
Helena Wegner,
Idaho Statesman,
27 June 2025
-
For too long, sunscreen hasn’t worked for melanin-rich skin—leaving behind white casts, greasy residue, or an unnatural gray tint.—
Essence,
Essence,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
My wanting was the leash that pulled me through my life.—
Max Ufberg,
hazlitt.net,
4 Jan. 2025
-
But David kept fighting and pulled fire away from landing Medevac helicopters, getting evacuated himself after the last helicopter landed.—
JOSH BOAK THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
arkansasonline.com,
4 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
That his songs are dripped in the melancholy, forever-heartbroken strums of the requinto guitar give Cornejo’s work a timeless quality.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
13 Mar. 2025
-
At Gropius Bau, black goo dripped from a handblown hourglass counting down specifically to the end of the exhibition.—
Emily McDermott,
ARTnews.com,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Camp Pendleton has tightened access to the sprawling Marine base in North County in the wake of the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans that killed 14 people.—
Gary Robbins,
The Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2025
-
But the Pole tightened when on the front foot in two baseline exchanges, moving forward at the wrong time and letting Fritz move out in front.—
James Hansen,
The Athletic,
5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Most analysts agree that Michael Misa, C, will be the No. 2 overall selection, but from pick No. 3 onward, mock drafts diverge sharply.—
Giovanni Malloy,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
Undersized at 6-foot-2, but a strong and explosive 215 pounds, Martin’s role in the Gators’ national championship success along with strong workouts for NBA teams placed him in the second round of many mock drafts.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
The Bears offense struggled under coordinator Shane Waldron, so he was fired.—
Kevin Fishbain,
The Athletic,
27 Dec. 2024
-
When Barbra Streisand struggled with the replacement orchestrations during a recording session, the conductor had Cullen’s original scores on hand.—
Darryn King,
Forbes,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Some people may have tried to heed that call, in a way.—
Michael Wilson,
New York Times,
24 Dec. 2024
-
In the past, Medina said, the two tried their hand at creating a viral moment with a fake Instagram video of Jones getting a suggestive face tattoo.—
Amanda Rosa,
Orlando Sentinel,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Women clasped hands in ring dances.—
John Leland,
New York Times,
22 Dec. 2024
-
Others clasped their hands in prayer.—
Abby Sewell,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strained. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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