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
Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 2 Jan. 2026
The Daily Mail reported that while Beatrice has remained close to her mother, her relationship with Andrew has become strained.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
The current spat comes during a year when Japan-China relations are already strained, in part because of Tokyo’s colonial and war-time past.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strained
Adjective
As hyperscale data centers multiply, utility companies are warning of strained grids and higher electricity bills for communities.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 2 Jan. 2026
The Daily Mail reported that while Beatrice has remained close to her mother, her relationship with Andrew has become strained.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Verb
Maduro inherited a nation strained by falling oil production and entrenched corruption, but his administration’s response — defined by economic mismanagement, rigid ideological controls and deepening authoritarianism — sharply accelerated the country’s unraveling.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
The current spat comes during a year when Japan-China relations are already strained, in part because of Tokyo’s colonial and war-time past.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 12 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
-
The team labored in home losses to Houston and the Los Angeles Chargers, with Mahomes ultimately suffering a season-ending ACL injury in the fourth quarter of that setback against the Chargers.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The administration has labored to frame the use of the military in Venezuela as a law enforcement action, since Maduro had outstanding warrants for his arrest in the United States.—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Blood splattered across the person’s cheeks and neck, seeped through the gauze looped around a leg and dripped onto the floor.—
Lauren Caruba,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Jan. 2026
-
Her ensemble featured the Maharani necklace of 168 carats of emeralds from Manish Malhotra High Jewelry that dripped down her décolletage.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
26 Dec. 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 8 Jan. 2026.
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