1
                    as in pulling
                                                
              
          
                                                      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                         
                
                                                                                                                                
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              2
                    as in filtering
                                                
              
          
                                                      to pass through a filter                                       
              
                             better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out                         
                
                                                                                                                                
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3
                    as in struggling
                                                
              
          
                                                      to devote serious and sustained effort                                       
              
                             the whole department is straining to complete the project before the deadline                         
                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
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4
                    as in dripping
                                                
              
          
                                                      to flow forth slowly through small openings                                       
              
                             put the cooked fruit in a cheesecloth bag and let the juice strain into a pan                         
                
                                                                                                                                                                          
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5
                    as in stretching
                                                
              
          
                                                      to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress                                       
              
                             strained her memory but the name just wouldn't come to her                         
                
                                                                                                                                
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6
                    as in tightening
                                                
              
          
                                                      to draw tight                                       
              
                             the dog strained its leash trying to get to the cat                         
                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
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7
                    as in hugging
                                                
              
          
                                                      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
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  Merriam-Webster unabridged




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