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
ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
The book is painfully honest about the strained relationship between Lilo, who survived the camps, and her sisters, who made it to America under less dire circumstances.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
As Siâvash increasingly retreats into imaginary characters, the documentary traces a sibling relationship shaped and strained by displacement, set against a backdrop of escalating tension between Iran and the United States that carries personal consequences for both subjects.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
Adjective
Reaves had been out since April 2 with strained oblique muscles, missing the final five games of the Lakers' regular season and the first four games of the postseason.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
The book is painfully honest about the strained relationship between Lilo, who survived the camps, and her sisters, who made it to America under less dire circumstances.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
Expensive gas can blow a hole through family budgets already strained by inflation, housing and car payments, now averaging more than $600 a month in Florida.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
As Siâvash increasingly retreats into imaginary characters, the documentary traces a sibling relationship shaped and strained by displacement, set against a backdrop of escalating tension between Iran and the United States that carries personal consequences for both subjects.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strained
Adjective
-
Analysts published mock drafts with the Panthers taking Jordyn Tyson and Omar Cooper Jr.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The segment was the comedian's mock alternative speech to the White House Correspondents' dinner, which aired two days before the real event the Trumps attended together ended in gunfire.—
Mandalit del Barco,
NPR,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That’s when Talley allegedly pulled the pistol out from under a blanket, shooting one officer in the face and a second in the chin, authorities said.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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The Dodgers pulled within 2-1 in the eighth inning when Freddie Freeman singled with one out to put runners on the corners and Smith delivered an RBI single to right field off of right-hander Michael Petersen.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The water is filtered through layers of limestone which removes iron, a mineral that can negatively affect the whiskey’s flavor.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Because in the book, Vidala is so filtered through other people’s perspectives.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
OpenAI’s attorneys painted Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman as humble startup founders who labored to build OpenAI while Musk was largely absent.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
All three women labored in Girard’s household to mend his stockings, run his household’s daily activities and maintain his home.—
Emily J. Whitted,
The Conversation,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Eight videos at 15 minutes each is two hours of content, dripped out to new email subscribers over a week.—
Daren Smith,
IndieWire,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Bristowe shared a video of herself in a post-op bra with drains attached, as fluid dripped through tubes.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Russell Lansford / Imagn Images On Saturday, a broken line of showers and thunderstorms stretched from the Gulf through the Carolinas.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
-
The main event was Musk’s testimony, which stretched over the course of three days, wrapping up on Thursday.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
The massacre roiled Australia, where serious gun crime has been rare since controls were tightened after a mass shooting in Tasmania 30 years ago.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
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The hearings follow a report urging gun reform The massacre roiled Australia, where serious gun crime has been rare since controls were tightened after a mass shooting in Tasmania 30 years ago.—
Charlotte Graham-McLay,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
People hugged and cheered around Delp, shifting positions and blocking the sofa without realizing the persistent pup was trying to push through just below them.—
Sara Vallone,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Apr. 2026
-
In his press conference on Monday, Rosenior pointed out that one video of Fernandez appearing to walk past him after being substituted against Manchester United was cut before the player turned around and hugged him and shook his hand.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strained. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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