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
Relevance
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
The shutdown has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers to work without pay, straining operations at major airports.
—
Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Even in the wealthiest countries populations are aging and straining key social systems.
—Sarah McCammon, NPR, 2 Nov. 2025
Unmoored by the star-power vacuum left by heavyweights Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner, the cast is clearly straining to find its footing in these early episodes.
—Charu Sinha, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2025
Hurricane Melissa is forecast to move through Jamaica and hit Cuba as a Category 4 storm, straining the already struggling country.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025
More than 150,000 new Rohingya refugees have arrived in the camps in the past two years, UNHCR says, straining the tight resources.
—Rebecca Wright, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
One hour becomes two, two become three, my mind straining for answers in the blackness.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
There was a more encouraging update on two-time All-NBA center Domantas Sabonis, who missed Wednesday’s game after straining his right hamstring during the preseason.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Pass rusher Bryce Huff is out after straining his hamstring late in Sunday’s 20-10 win over Atlanta, weakening a unit that lost defensive end Nick Bosa in Week 2 and linebacker Fred Warner in Week 6.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Even in the wealthiest countries populations are aging and straining key social systems.
—Sarah McCammon, NPR, 2 Nov. 2025
Unmoored by the star-power vacuum left by heavyweights Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner, the cast is clearly straining to find its footing in these early episodes.
—Charu Sinha, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2025
Hurricane Melissa is forecast to move through Jamaica and hit Cuba as a Category 4 storm, straining the already struggling country.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025
More than 150,000 new Rohingya refugees have arrived in the camps in the past two years, UNHCR says, straining the tight resources.
—Rebecca Wright, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
One hour becomes two, two become three, my mind straining for answers in the blackness.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
There was a more encouraging update on two-time All-NBA center Domantas Sabonis, who missed Wednesday’s game after straining his right hamstring during the preseason.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Pass rusher Bryce Huff is out after straining his hamstring late in Sunday’s 20-10 win over Atlanta, weakening a unit that lost defensive end Nick Bosa in Week 2 and linebacker Fred Warner in Week 6.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straining
Verb
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The challenge is less about pulling people off the street and more about improving the quality and capacity of training and integration of Ukrainian infantry into combat brigades.—
Jack Watling,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Nov. 2025
-
After pulling between your teeth to enjoy, the pods are discarded.—
Tammy Algood,
Southern Kitchen,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But simply consuming information isn’t enough; the crucial step is filtering it through her unique lens.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
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Though unsafe to eat from city waters, oysters are among the most efficient purifying devices, each adult capable of filtering up to fifty gallons a day.—
Ben McGrath,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Advertisement Her victory also carries national implications for Democrats, who are struggling to chart a path between progressive energy and centrist caution ahead of the 2026 midterms.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Always Greener, which scored 15 nominations on the annual Brit List, is a high concept script that follows a struggling artist, haunted by past failure, who is given a one-in-a-million chance to become his rich and successful doppelganger from a parallel universe.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Following their usual curtain call, Reeves, 61, and Winter, 60, slipped backstage, only to return moments later wearing nothing but their underwear and dripping in fake blood.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
3 Nov. 2025
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Amelia Gray was, fittingly, dripping in crystal for the Swarovski Masters of Light celebration in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Footwear News,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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He was first elected to the House in 1992, and now represents an inland district stretching from the southern Riverside suburbs to Palm Springs.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Without stretching their budget, travelers can enjoy 22 miles of pristine coastline or cross the bridge to hop on a shuttle with Explore Jax Core Tours, where the city’s history, culture, and future unfold through vivid storytelling and physical representation.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The system not only identified the optimal torque range for tightening bolts, but also recommended which additional tests engineers should prioritize.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Human as the Premium Automation moves fastest through tasks designed to be predictable, which is why standardized roles are tightening.—
Neel Somani,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Harbour and Brown arrived together on the red carpet for the premiere of the latest season and were captured on camera laughing, hugging each other and posing for photos.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Sweeney’s look played with proportions, with the leg-hugging footwear offsetting her oversized ensemble.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Dodgers then knocked off the Giants in the NL Division Series, though Scherzer lost his Game 3 start – allowing three hits and a run on Evan Longoria’s game-deciding homer while laboring seven innings and 110 pitches.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
26 Oct. 2025
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With The Fulfillment, the sub-context is how clout culture is a currency, how attention itself has become a currency, just like our laboring bodies are.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straining. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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