STRAINING Synonyms: 200 Similar and Opposite Words

straining

verb

present participle of strain

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

Relevance

as in filtering

to pass through a filter better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out

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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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as in tightening

to draw tight the dog strained its leash trying to get to the cat

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of straining 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 However, certain behaviors like straining and position may contribute to issues like incomplete bladder emptying and pelvic floor dysfunction. —

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 That’s due to inflation straining restaurant operations, according to the National Restaurant Association. —

Sydney Lake, Fortune, 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 Labneh Labneh is a Middle Eastern dairy product made by straining yogurt to remove its whey. —

Jillian Kubala, Health, 29 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for straining

Verb

If the plant was root bound in its pot, consider pulling it out of the ground, loosening up the roots so water can penetrate, and replanting it.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 June 2026
The mother of a security guard killed while working at a Deep Ellum nightclub last month has filed a lawsuit against the club and the man accused of pulling the trigger.

— Erin Jones, CBS News, 6 June 2026