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
Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Putting on a happy face for the public may be difficult when relationships feel strained.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 28 May 2026
The move away from technical broadcast expertise has similarly strained the network.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
Adjective
Prosecutors alleged the teen intentionally crashed her car into a brick wall at nearly 100 mph in Strongsville, Ohio in July 2022 after her relationship with Russo reportedly became strained.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Putting on a happy face for the public may be difficult when relationships feel strained.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Verb
Even relations with siblings, relatives and daily contacts are strained.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 28 May 2026
The move away from technical broadcast expertise has similarly strained the network.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strained
Adjective
-
Lewis oversaw workshops with school kids himself, traveling to schools in his free time, staging mock trials and handing out copies of legal documents, like the Constitution.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 May 2026
-
Each year, a different brother played Paddy, lying in the coffin, where he was roasted by a series of mock eulogies.—
Peter Hessler,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Colorado pulled to 8-3 in the fifth on Tyler Freeman’s two-run homer, but the Angels answered again in the bottom half on Jo Adell’s RBI single for a 9-3 lead.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
The hood’s intake is mounted at the back, so smoke and fumes rising from the back burners get pulled straight up into it.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Details are scarce, but the series is produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions, features the 44th president in the trailer and will comprise vignettes about America’s long history, as filtered through David’s distinct comedic aesthetic.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
3 June 2026
-
That biography took the form of a dark romance between the self-lacerating Louis and his fiercely loving but brutal maker, Lestat, filtered through the former’s brooding subjectivity.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The Thunder labored through a 111-103 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday in a decisive Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals.—
Mark Medina,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
Even the involuntary action of breathing was labored, and constantly faltering.—
Casey Ross,
STAT,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Sections lower in the nozzle that were not cooled began to overheat and sag while molten plastic dripped from the engine outlet.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
25 May 2026
-
The halter-neck number also featured strips of sparkling crystals, which dripped off of the bodice and skirt.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
After taking a 50-37 lead into halftime, the Fire stretched their advantage to 25 points in the third quarter.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
-
The exhibition traces the arc of a career that stretched across nearly seven decades and helped make participation, movement, and perception central concerns of contemporary art.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
The rules were tightened in 2012, when the club constitution was changed to introduce the 20-year membership requirement and the budget guarantee backed by Spanish banks.—
Sam Leveridge,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
The airline tightened its policy for plus-size customers in January, making the purchase of a second seat a requirement rather than a recommendation for guests who cannot sit safely in a single seat.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Renewing acquaintances in April, when the Giants visited San Diego this season for the first time, Preller chatted him up and hugged him.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
-
Some collapsed on the ground at the cave’s entrance and were hugged by a group of workers who cried in joy.—
Jintamas Saksornchai,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strained. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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