Thesaurus
Synonyms & Antonyms of strained
(Entry 1 of 2)
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
- I took the complaint manager's strained smile to mean I wasn't a welcome sight
Synonyms for strained
Words Related to strained
- automatic,
- canned,
- concocted,
- fabricated,
- hokey,
- labored,
- manufactured,
- pat,
- unauthentic,
- unreal,
- unrealistic
- double-dealing,
- empty,
- facile,
- hollow,
- hypocritical,
- insincere,
- left-handed,
- mealy,
- mealymouthed,
- two-faced,
- unctuous
- exaggerated,
- histrionic,
- melodramatic,
- overacted,
- overdone,
- theatrical
- (also theatric)
Near Antonyms for strained
Antonyms for strained
strained
verb
past tense of strain
Synonyms & Antonyms of strained (Entry 2 of 2)
1
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 for strained
Words Related to strained
2
to pass through a filter
- better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out
Synonyms for strained
Words Related to strained
3
to devote serious and sustained effort
- the whole department is straining to complete the project before the deadline
Synonyms for strained
Words Related to strained
Phrases Synonymous with strained
- sweat blood
- (or sweated blood)
Near Antonyms for strained
- bummed,
- chilled,
- dallied,
- dillydallied,
- footled,
- goldbricked,
- goofed (off),
- hacked (around),
- hung (around or out)
- (also hanged (around or out)),
- idled,
- lazed,
- loafed,
- lounged,
- shirked,
- slacked (off),
- vegged out
- dabbled,
- doodled,
- fooled around,
- fribbled,
- goofed (around),
- hung
- (also hanged),
- hung about
- [British],
- messed around,
- monkeyed (around),
- played,
- pottered (around),
- puttered (around),
- trifled
4
to flow forth slowly through small openings
- put the cooked fruit in a cheesecloth bag and let the juice strain into a pan
Synonyms for strained
Words Related to strained
Near Antonyms for strained
5
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
- strained her memory but the name just wouldn't come to her
Synonyms for strained
Words Related to strained
7
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 for strained
Words Related to strained
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for strained
The first known use of strained was circa 1542
See more words from the same year