as in mock
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
Abby Church, Houston Chronicle, 5 May 2026
Once Wagner went down with a strained calf and missed the final three games, everything flipped.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
Ties strained Relations between Britain and China have been strained since a national security crackdown on sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in 2019 in Hong Kong, which was under British rule for 156 years before reverting to Chinese sovereignty almost three decades ago.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
Adjective
The main beneficiaries of removing the Solid Waste department from the strained general fund remain Houston’s police and fire departments, which make up the majority of that fund.
—Abby Church, Houston Chronicle, 5 May 2026
Once Wagner went down with a strained calf and missed the final three games, everything flipped.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Verb
So the muscles in my shoulder were not used to doing these movements with a very heavy bow; strained my shoulder.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
Ties strained Relations between Britain and China have been strained since a national security crackdown on sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in 2019 in Hong Kong, which was under British rule for 156 years before reverting to Chinese sovereignty almost three decades ago.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strained
Adjective
-
The sprawling 85-acre facility used to train Atlanta’s police and firefighters includes a mock gas station, a train track with several rail cars, a firehouse, a horse stable, a seven-story burn tower and a 28-lane indoor shooting range.—
Shaddi Abusaid,
AJC.com,
12 May 2026
-
Adding the appropriate gothic touch to this Debra Hill production are John Lloyd’s dripping-with-mock-Victorian-splendor sets and John Morris’ delightfully tongue-in-cheek score.—
Kirk Ellis,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
When agents approached, Marx ran, then pulled a handgun from his waistband while fleeing, according to a federal affidavit reviewed by Fox News Digital.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
The loose, stretchy fit is comfortable enough for all-day sightseeing yet still looks pulled together for dinner reservations.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Chappelle explained that, between sets, comedians constantly discuss their different points of view and how comedy can be filtered through different cultural lenses.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
6 May 2026
-
Rain that once filtered into soil could instead run off into surrounding areas, increasing the risk of flooding and putting pressure on nearby waterways.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Cade Cavalli, who struck out 10 in each of his previous two starts, labored his way through four innings, and the offense failed to convert on early opportunities.—
Danielle Allentuck,
Washington Post,
6 May 2026
-
In Qatar, a 27-year-old Bangladeshi factory worker labored through 12-hour shifts as missiles flew overhead.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
As drops dripped from a clay oven, Garnica and her siblings listened to stories told by their parents while neighbors arrived by horse to get a taste of a drink known for its smoky flavor.—
Claudia Rosel,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
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From the looming white-domed oven emerge the flakiest pies, feteer, built of gauzy layers of dough, pressed with ghee and stretched, then folded one inside another around your choice of filling.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
The April 28 City Council meeting stretched into its eighth hour.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
McBride scored 13 of her 18 points in the first quarter before the Dream defense tightened on her.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2026
-
Restrictions were partially eased in February before being tightened again after the US and Israel struck Iran on February 28.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The couple, who wore coordinating black and white outfits, happily hugged and kissed on the beach in the second and third shots.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
When the game was over, James hugged several of the Thunder players.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strained. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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