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
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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
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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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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of straining
Fiscal shocks are straining governments’ ability to act.
—
Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Even before this year’s harvest, growing demand was straining matcha supplies.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Some Puerto Ricans also argue that undocumented immigrants are a burden, straining public services or competing for jobs.
—Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 16 Sep. 2025
Pay attention to subtle changes, such as a weaker stream, straining or frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom.
—Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
Greek yogurt is made by straining regular yogurt to remove some of the liquid, or whey.
—Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 15 Sep. 2025
It's called the anti-G straining maneuver.
—ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
Now, researchers believe the condition is more linked to straining and changes in pressure that affect hemorrhoid veins.
—Simon Spichak, Health, 10 Sep. 2025
The screen is optimized for color reading without straining your eyes.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Even before this year’s harvest, growing demand was straining matcha supplies.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Some Puerto Ricans also argue that undocumented immigrants are a burden, straining public services or competing for jobs.
—Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 16 Sep. 2025
Pay attention to subtle changes, such as a weaker stream, straining or frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom.
—Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
Greek yogurt is made by straining regular yogurt to remove some of the liquid, or whey.
—Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 15 Sep. 2025
It's called the anti-G straining maneuver.
—ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
Now, researchers believe the condition is more linked to straining and changes in pressure that affect hemorrhoid veins.
—Simon Spichak, Health, 10 Sep. 2025
The screen is optimized for color reading without straining your eyes.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straining
Verb
-
All major indexes dipped slightly Tuesday, with tech shares such as Nvidia and Microsoft pulling back.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Good Times Oakland is pulling from a deep well of retail bottles, and has a bar for the public to sip and sup.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Supporting the best candidates and filtering out the worst is necessary for both the short-term and long-term health of the party and country as a whole.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
By filtering out vibrations and electromagnetic interference, Ironstone Opal maintained accuracy without the recalibration classical systems require.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
However, there is overall good news for renters across the country struggling with higher costs.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Like your obliques, your adductors provide stability and alignment that can make the difference between moving with ease and struggling with pain.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
An initial jolt of spicy pink pepper dissipates to reveal a rose dripping in honeyed, ambery sweetness, while its leathery base adds strength, dimension, and something a little bit naughty to this fruity-floral triumph of a scent.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Sweat dripping from her forehead to the corpse.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
When tested, the team found that the new material is extremely stretchy, able to safely handle ~4600% strain (like stretching 1 cm of gel to 46 cm without breaking).—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The Grand Teton Pathway passes through the park, stretching from Jackson to Antelope Flats Road.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
They are favored to win the governor’s races in Virginia and New Jersey, though the former appears to be tightening.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The tightening polls also came after Cornyn leaned into the Texas redistricting fight, garnering attention for calling on the FBI to help bring back Democrats who had fled the state in protest against efforts to redraw the maps.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In typical athlete origin story fashion, the first half of the Christy trailer depicts the unpolished, brunette Sweeney as real-life champion Christy Salters Martin slugging it out in practice, training on a beach, and hugging her supportive team.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
But most are job hugging because job hoppers no longer get the big salary bump.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Chiefs players spent training camp laboring at hot, humid Missouri Western State University.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
During that season Clark was laboring to teach all his defensive linemen a new technique to use, and players would have to film themselves working on it, and send it into the coaches.—
Omar Kelly
August 23,
Miami Herald,
23 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straining. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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