strained 1 of 2

strained

2 of 2

verb

past tense of strain
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
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
6
as in tightened
to draw tight the dog strained its leash trying to get to the cat

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

7

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of strained
Adjective
Canada has a new U.S. ambassador to sort through its strained relations with Washington as the Senate on Wednesday approved President Donald Trump’s nomination of Peter Hoekstra in a 60-37 vote. Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025 Four different ailments have sidelined Wiggins since joining the Heat - a hamstring, strained ankle, leg contusion and stomach illness. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 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
  • While headphones usually create an unnatural and exaggerated stereo field inside the listener’s head, with virtual acoustic spaces a more natural stereo field can be experienced through headphones.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Photos often have unnatural colors, with little detail upon close inspection.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 17 Apr. 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
  • Some mock drafts had the Steelers taking a running back like Omarion Hampton in the first round.
    Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Congratulations to all the top scorers who competed against 1,527 mock drafts!
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strained. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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