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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in filtering
to pass through a filter
better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in struggling
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 dripping
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 stretching
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
as in tightening
to draw tight
the dog strained its leash trying to get to the cat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of straining
In the constituency’s main town of Ashton-in-Makerfield, 200 miles (320 kilometers) northwest of London, some voters echo Reform claims that recent arrivals are straining housing and public services.
—
ABC News, 11 June 2026
Either way, the machine is straining.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 June 2026
At a moment when international cooperation is essential to controlling outbreaks, policies that risk straining those relationships may have consequences that extend far beyond the care of a small number of patients.
—Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 5 June 2026
Avoid straining when urinating.
—Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 3 June 2026
Pet dumping is becoming a major problem in Connecticut, straining animal control officers while shelters are reaching full capacity.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2026
The draft crisis is straining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fragile coalition, inflaming secular–religious tensions and raising the prospect of early elections as ultra-Orthodox leaders vow defiance over conscription.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Auoon Clip-On Pot Strainer This clever clip-on pot strainer takes up less space in the cabinet and the dishwasher, and makes quick work of straining pasta water, washing fruit and vegetables, and more.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
The bottom line With the right tools and strategies, your business can find quality candidates without straining resources.
—Audrey Payne, CNBC, 29 May 2026
ABC News, 11 June 2026
Either way, the machine is straining.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 June 2026
At a moment when international cooperation is essential to controlling outbreaks, policies that risk straining those relationships may have consequences that extend far beyond the care of a small number of patients.
—Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 5 June 2026
Avoid straining when urinating.
—Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 3 June 2026
Pet dumping is becoming a major problem in Connecticut, straining animal control officers while shelters are reaching full capacity.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2026
The draft crisis is straining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fragile coalition, inflaming secular–religious tensions and raising the prospect of early elections as ultra-Orthodox leaders vow defiance over conscription.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Auoon Clip-On Pot Strainer This clever clip-on pot strainer takes up less space in the cabinet and the dishwasher, and makes quick work of straining pasta water, washing fruit and vegetables, and more.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
The bottom line With the right tools and strategies, your business can find quality candidates without straining resources.
—Audrey Payne, CNBC, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straining
Verb
-
There’s a lot of repairing and resolution that needs to happen in this final episode, but luckily things start strong with Liz and Jo-Ellen pulling each other aside to talk things through on the beach.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
-
But Hong Kong has a way of pulling people back.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Each time the leaves trembled, the sunlight filtering through them also wavered.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Warsh argues that officials should take filtering noisy data a step further.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Washington — While millions of Americans are struggling to find jobs in a tough labor market, healthcare is emerging as a lifeline for career changers.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
Global consumers want more protein in every bite, but the dairy industry is struggling to give it to them.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Fortune,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Even when the air-conditioning is cranking, my friends and I are still dripping in sweat.—
Jeremy Rellosa,
Curbed,
4 June 2026
-
The cannister featured an image of an angry mutt with saliva dripping from its jaws.—
Peter Hessler,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Presenting what must be some of the Riviera's most impressive views, every room of the hotel has access to 180-degree uninterrupted vistas of the Mediterranean sea and coastline stretching from Italy all the way along to the Principality and beyond.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
-
There was also a giant tree stretching across Laflin Street about a block from the scene of the fire, after being felled by the storms on Wednesday.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Social media companies have already put in place child safety measures, such as new algorithms, in response to tightening regulations, including by Britain.—
Paul Sandle,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
-
The Bank of Japan raised rates to their highest level in more than 30 years, one of a string of major central banks tightening monetary policy in part because the Iran war is fueling inflation risks worldwide.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Rendered in a soft buttercream hue, the dress featured a high neckline and an elegant swing silhouette that skimmed the body rather than hugging it.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
11 June 2026
-
Ground-hugging plants can be pruned around the outer edges.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
With evacuation shelters reaching capacity as more than 40,000 people were asked to leave their homes, officials laboring to prevent an explosion at a crippled chemical tank in Garden Grove reported tentative progress Sunday in ending the crisis.—
Deborah Netburn,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
-
Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points, but was laboring on the court, leading to questions about his health.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Straining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straining. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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