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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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of strained
Jasna Hodžić, Big Think, 22 Apr. 2026
Analysts say tourism and population growth in cities driven by immigration have further strained supply.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
The bottom of the barbell is financially strained, but at least partially visible to policymakers because that is where safety-net eligibility lives.
—Katica Roy, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
Adjective
One of them, growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), increases when energy flow becomes strained.
—Jasna Hodžić, Big Think, 22 Apr. 2026
Analysts say tourism and population growth in cities driven by immigration have further strained supply.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
The Esperanza junior, who wrestles at 113 pounds, strained a knee during the Doc Buchanan tournament in Clovis in January.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
The bottom of the barbell is financially strained, but at least partially visible to policymakers because that is where safety-net eligibility lives.
—Katica Roy, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strained
Adjective
-
Analysts published mock drafts with the Panthers taking Jordyn Tyson and Omar Cooper Jr.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The segment was the comedian's mock alternative speech to the White House Correspondents' dinner, which aired two days before the real event the Trumps attended together ended in gunfire.—
Mandalit del Barco,
NPR,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hoopes turned a corner and the cop, lights flashing, pulled him over.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Finally, this past New Year’s Eve, their full-length debut surfaced as an unfussy YouTube post—only to get pulled one week later as Bottner sought label distribution.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Provide afternoon shade or filtered sunlight in hot climates.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Nearly everything The Pitt revealed about Al-Hashimi has been filtered through Robby’s reaction to it, from her ethnic name to her time with international NGOs to her desire to hire two attendings for the daytime shift.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In many years on dairy farms, the worker often labored for 10 hours with no breaks.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Lamarck surely labored over these Romantic effusions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Bristowe shared a video of herself in a post-op bra with drains attached, as fluid dripped through tubes.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Essential Drip Glossy Balm in the shade skinny dripped and the brand's Mélange à Trois Blush & Highlight Stick in the shade sweet talker to apply her look in the car.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The 2026 draft footprint stretched across Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium (still Heinz Field in the hearts of civilized people) and by the end of the weekend, the city had hosted one of the biggest football parties in human history.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Transportation officials said delays in the northbound direction stretched up to an hour as of Saturday afternoon, with a roughly two-mile stretch taking drivers far longer than usual to navigate.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The push to strengthen soot regulation yielded a major win in 2024, when the Biden-era EPA tightened the annual standard and adopted a 25% reduction in allowable fine particulate matter levels.—
Chaewon Chung
April 24,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Iran tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, as US peace talks remained distant.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
People hugged and cheered around Delp, shifting positions and blocking the sofa without realizing the persistent pup was trying to push through just below them.—
Sara Vallone,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Apr. 2026
-
In his press conference on Monday, Rosenior pointed out that one video of Fernandez appearing to walk past him after being substituted against Manchester United was cut before the player turned around and hugged him and shook his hand.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strained. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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