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
Christina Perrier, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
JPMorgan said a prolonged conflict could push crude above $100 a barrel, helping bolster revenues at a time of strained public finances and heavy debt loads in producers such as Angola, Equatorial Guinea, and Nigeria.
—Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Delbert L. Chears, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
This shift is happening at a time when California’s health system is already strained.
—Scott Suckow, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
Adjective
Last month, the singer spoke candidly about her strained relationship with her parents, Jamie and Lynne, and sister, Jamie Lynn.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
JPMorgan said a prolonged conflict could push crude above $100 a barrel, helping bolster revenues at a time of strained public finances and heavy debt loads in producers such as Angola, Equatorial Guinea, and Nigeria.
—Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
Dogs were tense, natives strained to listen for a distant answer.
—Delbert L. Chears, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
This shift is happening at a time when California’s health system is already strained.
—Scott Suckow, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strained
Adjective
-
Lo and behold, the signal for the mock galaxy was just as strong as the signal for CDG-2 was, even when the globular clusters were masked completely away.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
3 Mar. 2026
-
With that in mind and a week of intel collected, here’s The Denver Post’s second stab at a Broncos mock draft.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While Democrats dominated the early voting numbers in Pulaski County -- one of the few heavily blue pockets of the state -- Democrats outnumbered Republicans in election day voting on Tuesday with 18,363 people casting Democratic ballots compared to the 10,500 who pulled ballots for Republicans.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
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The prosecutor alleged that Abril confronted the couple, at which point James MacEgan was shot and killed, before Abril grabbed MacEgan’s wife and pulled her into the creek.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In turn, that filtered into the earnings beat.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Eco effort Water from the lake is pumped from depths of 164 feet and filtered into the hotel’s air conditioning system to cool the rooms in summer.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Lakshmi even labored over the shape of the studio, citing studies that conclude rounded shapes facilitate focus and creativity.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Many states in recent years have labored to pass sports betting laws, tapping massive tax revenues from wagers to balance their budgets.—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
If the winds were steady enough, as the water dripped down the icicle, it would be pushed back, causing the ice to accumulate in the back, rather than at the bottom.—
Ray Petelin,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The strapless gown was designed with a plunging neckline and dripped in tassel-like gems.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The lead stretched to 12 early in the third quarter, but slowly and painfully for Parker, the hosts, with Archer attacking the glass, kept pecking away.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile, working- and middle-class families are stretched thin.—
Tiffany Caban,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
How state laws tightened the squeeze Two recent state laws significantly reduced Austin’s budget flexibility.—
Austin Sanders,
Austin American Statesman,
1 Mar. 2026
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Driving lanes tightened quickly with Wembanyama roaming the paint.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When Shaqir O’Neal hugged his formidably famous father to cap a satisfying Senior Night experience, the slender 6-foot-8 Sacramento State forward leaned in to listen, and then laughed.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
3 Mar. 2026
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The Sinners actor hugged his co-star Delroy Lindo and his mom before taking the stage.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strained. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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