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
Fashion was not the only Paris institution straining.
—
ABC News,
26 June 2026
You may be used to straining cans the traditional way, which involves using the cutoff lid to drain and squeeze out liquid from the contents of the can, but this strainer offers a simpler solution to the job that won’t potentially cut your hands in the process.
—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
24 June 2026
This flexibility is always important, but especially so now, with higher borrowing costs, elevated debt levels and other factors already straining your financial health.
—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
After dealing with injuries that shortened his strong 2025 campaign, Giants starter Tyler Mahle is starting an MLB game for the first time since late May after straining his left hamstring.
—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
23 June 2026
The 2026 World Cup is straining public services in 16 host cities with unprecedented crowd surges and emergency demands, including a 350% spike in calls, many from non-English speakers.
—
Alison Coleman,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Problem properties can create economic and fiscal challenges, including depressing neighboring property values, straining fire and police resources and increasing the risk of arson and violent crime.
—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
18 June 2026
Instead, discussions to end the war are straining relations between the two leaders.
—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
Either way, the machine is straining.
—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
10 June 2026
ABC News,
26 June 2026
You may be used to straining cans the traditional way, which involves using the cutoff lid to drain and squeeze out liquid from the contents of the can, but this strainer offers a simpler solution to the job that won’t potentially cut your hands in the process.
—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
24 June 2026
This flexibility is always important, but especially so now, with higher borrowing costs, elevated debt levels and other factors already straining your financial health.
—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
After dealing with injuries that shortened his strong 2025 campaign, Giants starter Tyler Mahle is starting an MLB game for the first time since late May after straining his left hamstring.
—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
23 June 2026
The 2026 World Cup is straining public services in 16 host cities with unprecedented crowd surges and emergency demands, including a 350% spike in calls, many from non-English speakers.
—
Alison Coleman,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Problem properties can create economic and fiscal challenges, including depressing neighboring property values, straining fire and police resources and increasing the risk of arson and violent crime.
—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
18 June 2026
Instead, discussions to end the war are straining relations between the two leaders.
—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
Either way, the machine is straining.
—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straining
Verb
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Workers were dispatched throughout La Guaira and parts of Caracas, where families and volunteers have spent the last few days pulling survivors and bodies from the wreckage despite a lack of heavy equipment and limited guidance from authorities.
-
Rescuers have fanned out across La Guaira, where the worst destruction occurred, and parts of Caracas, where families and volunteers have spent days pulling survivors and victims from the rubble.
Verb
-
Like the living room, the bedroom is painted the same flat white but the quality of the eastern light filtering into the bedroom casts a buttery glow.
-
The culmination of the event saw people filtering into the shore to create a circle of colorful surfboards dotted with flowers to toss into the ocean to honor ancestors, invoke healing and celebrate the relationship between Black people and the ocean.
Verb
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And what people in that district are exhausted by is a politics that has justified the spending of tens of billions of dollars in killing civilians overseas, while working people are struggling just to do the basics.
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The fashion industry has been struggling in Europe and China, while seeing growth in North America, Ebner said.
Verb
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To prevent that, some operators maintain low oil flow rates, akin to dripping a faucet in freezing cold weather to avoid frozen pipes.
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Endive petals dripping in vinaigrette.
Verb
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What foundation needs your attention before stretching?
-
October 23 – November 21 What foundation needs your attention before stretching?
Verb
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So memory is being reallocated, quietly but decisively, away from consumer electronics and toward AI infrastructure, which is tightening the squeeze on consumer devices.
-
On the other, consumers are tightening their spending due to broader economic uncertainty.
Verb
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People remained on the streets for hours, some sitting on the ground hugging pets as dust gathered around them.
-
Up in the stands, the Weahs lost their minds, cheering and hugging everyone in sight, the famous George Weah included.
Verb
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In the days since posting the news, Mitchell has continued to update her followers about the aftermath and the start of the healing process, including videos of herself laboring.
-
Mercurius began laboring in the third and left after Hull's second homer of the CWS and ninth of the season leading off the fifth.
Cite this Entry
“Straining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straining. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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