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

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

In the first primary since the death of Alameda County District 2 Supervisor Richard Valle, the race for District 2 comes as supervisors confront how to respond to state and federal cuts that have decimated budgets of safety net services and strained the county’s finances. —Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 3 June 2026

Trump’s support in the Colombian presidential campaign underscores the current tension between Washington and Bogota as relations between the countries have grown strained under Colombian President Gustavo Petro. —ABC News, 3 June 2026