Synonyms of strained

strained 1 of 2

adjective

ˈstrānd 

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

• mock
• unnatural
• affected
• exaggerated
• false
• forced
• artificial
• contrived
• fake
• simulated
• mechanical
• assumed
• pseudo
• plastic
• feigned
• pretended
• spurious
• theatrical
• phony
• hollow
• factitious
• cute
• bogus
• sham
• stiff
• empty
• labored
• unreal
• put-on
• manufactured
• calculated
• pat
• canned
• deliberate
• unrealistic
• formal
• automatic
• hypocritical
• fabricated
• cultivated
• rigid
• insincere
• unctuous
• melodramatic
• concocted
• conscious
• conventional
• hokey
• wooden
• facile
• mealy
• unauthentic
• impersonal
• inflexible
• histrionic
• stylized
• studied
• mincing
• overdone
• overacted
• mealymouthed
• genteel
• two-faced
• premeditated
• overrefined
• simpering
• double-dealing
• artful
• cutesy
• left-handed
• goody-goody

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unaffected
• natural
• genuine
• real
• spontaneous
• realistic
• bona fide
• right
• true
• artless
• authentic
• sincere
• smooth
• honest
• easy
• unforced
• unfeigned
• ingenuous
• uncontrived
• unconscious
• effortless
• instinctive
• impromptu
• impulsive
• extemporaneous
• unpretending
• unstudied
• unrehearsed
• unprompted

strained

2 of 2

verb

past tense of strain

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

• pulled
• damaged
• bruised
• weakened
• stretched
• hurt
• wrenched
• racked
• taxed
• impaired
• wounded
• frayed
• battered
• tore
• crippled
• harmed
• mutilated
• mangled
• lamed

2

as in filtered

to pass through a filter

better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out

Synonyms & Similar Words

• filtered
• screened
• leached
• percolated

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

• labored
• struggled
• worked
• endeavored
• tugged
• tried
• plowed
• toiled
• sweat
• dug (away)
• humped
• hustled
• strove
• fagged
• slaved
• grubbed
• plugged
• drudged
• pegged (away)
• plodded
• travailed
• slogged
• banged away
• sweat blood
• moiled
• scratched
• applied (oneself)
• overworked
• exerted
• attacked
• pitched in
• buckled (down)
• beavered (away)
• dug in
• essayed
• hammered (away)
• exercised
• drove
• waded
• overexerted
• knuckled down
• eked out
• trudged
• scrabbled
• ground (out)
• put out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slackened
• broke
• chilled
• eased (up)
• idled
• let up
• rested
• hung (around or out)
• relaxed
• lounged
• shirked
• bummed
• loafed
• dallied
• lazed
• slacked (off)
• unwound
• hacked (around)
• goofed (off)
• lolled
• played
• hung
• reposed
• basked
• trifled
• goldbricked
• dillydallied
• dabbled
• footled
• vegged out
• doodled
• hung about
• fooled around
• messed around
• goofed (around)
• puttered (around)
• pottered (around)
• monkeyed (around)
• fribbled

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

• dripped
• flowed
• seeped
• percolated
• wept
• bled
• exuded
• oozed
• sweat
• transuded
• trickled
• emitted
• emanated
• dribbled
• vented
• sprang
• gave off
• discharged

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• poured
• flooded
• surged
• streamed
• gushed

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

• stretched
• tried
• pushed
• tested
• taxed
• got (to)
• annoyed
• bothered
• irritated
• pained
• pressured
• demanded
• exasperated
• aggravated
• importuned
• harassed
• pressed
• vexed
• nettled
• irked
• exacted
• harried
• grated
• agitated
• peeved
• galled
• riled
• pestered
• gnawed (at)
• hassled
• spited

6

as in tightened

to draw tight

the dog strained its leash trying to get to the cat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tightened
• tensed
• stretched
• tautened
• lengthened
• elongated
• extended
• constricted
• cinched

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loosened
• slackened
• relaxed
• eased
• slacked

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

• hugged
• clasped
• clung
• cradled
• crushed
• grasped
• embraced
• grabbed
• wrapped
• enfolded
• held
• clamped
• bear-hugged
• enclasped
• gripped
• patted
• entwined
• folded
• enveloped
• encircled
• snuggled
• locked
• twined
• stroked
• nuzzled
• fondled
• embosomed
• cuddled
• enwound
• petted
• nestled
• bosomed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of strained

Adjective

But the relationship between OpenAI and Apple has become strained, with the ChatGPT creator believing that the integration failed to meet expectations and considering legal action, Bloomberg reported last month. —David Ingram, NBC news, 8 June 2026

Wage inflation ticked down, a positive only in that the consumer feeling a bit more strained acts as a natural counterbalance to inflation. —Zev Fima, CNBC, 7 June 2026

Verb

Parts of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic also strained under high heat and humidity. —Hallie Golden, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026

Supporters of the initiative dislike an influx of expatriates from the neighboring European Union, and say Swiss infrastructure, housing, social programs, natural resources and way of life have been strained under demographic growth. —Jamey Keaten, Fortune, 10 June 2026