Synonyms of strained

strained 1 of 2

adjective

ˈstrānd 

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

• unnatural
• mock
• affected
• forced
• exaggerated
• false
• artificial
• fake
• simulated
• mechanical
• contrived
• pseudo
• assumed
• plastic
• feigned
• theatric
• pretended
• theatrical
• phoney
• spurious
• hollow
• phony
• factitious
• empty
• cute
• bogus
• stiff
• sham
• unreal
• calculated
• labored
• manufactured
• pat
• put-on
• deliberate
• formal
• canned
• concocted
• unrealistic
• automatic
• cultivated
• rigid
• hypocritical
• fabricated
• conscious
• insincere
• melodramatic
• unctuous
• conventional
• wooden
• hokey
• facile
• mealy
• unauthentic
• impersonal
• inflexible
• stylized
• histrionic
• studied
• mincing
• overdone
• overacted
• genteel
• mealymouthed
• two-faced
• premeditated
• overrefined
• simpering
• artful
• double-dealing
• cutesy
• left-handed
• goody-goody

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unaffected
• natural
• genuine
• real
• spontaneous
• realistic
• bona fide
• right
• true
• artless
• authentic
• sincere
• smooth
• honest
• easy
• unforced
• unfeigned
• ingenuous
• uncontrived
• unconscious
• effortless
• instinctive
• impromptu
• impulsive
• extemporaneous
• unpretending
• unstudied
• unrehearsed
• unprompted

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

• pulled
• damaged
• bruised
• weakened
• stretched
• hurt
• wrenched
• racked
• taxed
• impaired
• wounded
• frayed
• battered
• tore
• crippled
• harmed
• mutilated
• mangled
• lamed

2

as in filtered

to pass through a filter

better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out

Synonyms & Similar Words

• filtered
• screened
• leached
• percolated

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

• labored
• struggled
• wrought
• worked
• sweated
• tugged
• strived
• tried
• endeavored
• plowed
• sweat
• toiled
• dug (away)
• humped
• hustled
• strove
• fagged
• slaved
• grubbed
• plugged
• drudged
• pegged (away)
• plodded
• travailed
• sweated blood
• slogged
• banged away
• sweat blood
• moiled
• scratched
• overworked
• applied (oneself)
• exerted
• attacked
• pitched in
• buckled (down)
• beavered (away)
• dug in
• essayed
• hammered (away)
• exercised
• drove
• waded
• overexerted
• knuckled down
• eked out
• trudged
• scrabbled
• ground (out)
• put out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slackened
• broke
• chilled
• eased (up)
• idled
• rested
• let up
• hung (around or out)
• relaxed
• lounged
• hanged (around or out)
• shirked
• bummed
• loafed
• dallied
• lazed
• slacked (off)
• unwound
• hacked (around)
• goofed (off)
• lolled
• played
• hung
• reposed
• basked
• hanged
• trifled
• goldbricked
• dillydallied
• footled
• dabbled
• vegged out
• doodled
• hung about
• fooled around
• messed around
• goofed (around)
• puttered (around)
• pottered (around)
• monkeyed (around)
• fribbled

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

• dripped
• sweated
• flowed
• seeped
• percolated
• wept
• bled
• exuded
• oozed
• sweat
• transuded
• trickled
• emitted
• emanated
• dribbled
• sprang
• vented
• gave off
• sprung
• discharged

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• poured
• flooded
• surged
• streamed
• gushed

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

• stretched
• tried
• pushed
• tested
• taxed
• got (to)
• annoyed
• bothered
• irritated
• pained
• pressured
• demanded
• exasperated
• aggravated
• importuned
• harassed
• pressed
• vexed
• nettled
• irked
• exacted
• harried
• grated
• agitated
• peeved
• galled
• riled
• pestered
• gnawed (at)
• hassled
• spited
• vext

6

as in tightened

to draw tight

the dog strained its leash trying to get to the cat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tightened
• tensed
• stretched
• tautened
• lengthened
• elongated
• extended
• constricted
• cinched

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loosened
• slackened
• relaxed
• eased
• slacked

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

• hugged
• clasped
• clung
• cradled
• crushed
• grasped
• embraced
• grabbed
• wrapped
• enfolded
• held
• clamped
• bear-hugged
• enclasped
• gripped
• patted
• entwined
• folded
• enveloped
• encircled
• snuggled
• locked
• twined
• stroked
• nuzzled
• fondled
• embosomed
• cuddled
• enwound
• petted
• nestled
• bosomed

Examples of strained in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Elle King is opening up about her strained relationship with her father Rob Schneider. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2024

Ryota’s return also marks his family’s introduction to his new wife and stepson, whose perspectives as outsiders are crucial to unveiling the family’s strained dynamic. —Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024

Dodgers rookie pitcher River Ryan will miss the rest of the season with a strained ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, Dave Roberts announced Sunday, a day after Ryan exited his start in the Dodgers’ 4-1 win over the Pirates. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2024

Lois struggles with a strained relationship with her daughter, a husband in long-term hospital care, and her own inner demons. —Nick Romano, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2024