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
Khobi Price, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
The relationship between the longtime allies remains strained.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2025
Several transit agency employees and members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998 , said several cuts made in August, following the announcement of the transit agency's deficit, have already strained the system significantly.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strained
Adjective
The Timberwolves will be without All-Star guard Anthony Edwards, who is sidelined because of a strained right hamstring.
—Khobi Price, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
The relationship between the longtime allies remains strained.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
The most important issue is that Huntersville’s rapid growth has strained our resources and infrastructure, risking the safety of our residents.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2025
Several transit agency employees and members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998 , said several cuts made in August, following the announcement of the transit agency's deficit, have already strained the system significantly.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 29 Oct. 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
-
Hot dishes pulled from the oven should never be put directly into cold water, and any glass pans pulled from the refrigerator for reheating should be brought to room temperature before heating.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Photos taken of Kitzing at the time of their arrest in 1936 show them in feminine dress, with long hair pulled back, wearing a fur coat and a hat.—
Kate Sosin,
Them.,
31 Oct. 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
-
That means that while some other federal workers have labored without pay for a month, CJA panel attorneys such as Foster and Binninger have worked without pay since before July 3, when the CJA funding officially expired.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Betsy’s love labored between two living losses.—
Joy Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Streams of sweat dripped from my wig down my back.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
25 Sep. 2025
-
To prevent the chicken fingers from getting gummy, make sure all excess batter has dripped off before transferring the chicken to the breadcrumbs.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
18 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 7 Nov. 2025.
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