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
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
Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
This model would reduce reliance on strained grid interconnections, speed deployment, and enhance the energy system’s resilience.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2025
Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Indiana's energy grid is strained and Hoosiers face high energy bills.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strained
Adjective
In truth, the patriots’ path to victory was a near decade-long slog characterized by a string of strange bedfellows, strained alliances, and dramatic reversals.
—Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
This model would reduce reliance on strained grid interconnections, speed deployment, and enhance the energy system’s resilience.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
The widespread shortages reflect how declining rainfall and poor infrastructure planning have strained both urban supply and agriculture.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Indiana's energy grid is strained and Hoosiers face high energy bills.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strained
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strained
Adjective
-
What really makes the dress stand out is its chic details, which includes a structured seam around the waist, gold-tone decorative buttons, and a mock neckline.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The eye-rolling, groaning, mock-despair brings the group together.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
For years, fashion companies like Ralph Lauren pulled their products from Macy’s stores to sell more of their products direct to consumers online and at their own stores.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Curran then grabbed Trantalis’ leg and pulled him to the ground, then reportedly dragged him 15 feet across the road.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Raw honey is honey in its most unprocessed state and contains what would otherwise be filtered out or inactivated by heat, like antioxidants, enzymes, pollen, and microbes.—
Angela Ryan Lee,
Verywell Health,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Everything that a doctor does in The Pitt is filtered through how their character would practice medicine in that moment, and that’s a real skill in a big ensemble show.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Sadly, set-ups around this intense huis clos are often labored, with storylines that fizzle out and characters who become suddenly pivotal and then recede into the background.—
NPR,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
-
For more than 100 years, enslaved people lived and labored in the colonies, but after the Revolutionary War, northern states eventually abolished most forms of enslavement by the early 1800s, led by Vermont in 1777.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Shafts of sunlight poked through the roof, rainwater dripped everywhere and the facade outside was crumbling.—
Laura L. Davis,
Nashville Tennessean,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Streams of sweat dripped from my wig down my back.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At the port, narrow wooden docks stretched over the river, lined with vendors selling hammocks, bottled water, sacks of rice, and mosquito repellent.—
Aaron Randolph,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The attosecond pulses stretched only slightly from 90 to 96 attoseconds.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
For years, 58-year-old Abel Linares watched his health slip away as kidney disease tightened its grip.—
Ronnie Li,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
His frequent warnings that the city would fall into ruin if Mamdani, 34, were elected mayor may have tightened the race slightly.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
After it was read, Dunn hugged his lawyers in the courtroom.—
Stephen Sorace , Louis Casiano , Jake Gibson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Kinloch offers advice, not concession to Sheffield After giving his speech, Kinloch shook hands, hugged and took photos with his supporters, who generally radiated smiles and continued dancing, despite his loss in the race.—
Dana Afana,
Freep.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strained. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share