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
He was forced to leave the game in the final minutes of the Pelicans’ Play-In Tournament loss to the Lakers last season after straining his left hamstring.
—
William Guillory, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
This will deepen the divide between the global North and South on issues of race and cultural difference, straining the West’s diplomatic relations with countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America while provoking broader resentment toward Western countries seen as perpetuating racial hierarchies.
—Matias Spektor, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
These are important strides for a club who have spent the past couple of years straining to survive, but TFG faces another significant test just weeks into its tenure.
—Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
Le Pen's remarks often sparked public outrage, but his influence shaped France's populist movement, with his inflammatory statements, including Holocaust denial, resulting in multiple convictions and straining his political alliances.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
Ukraine is short of troops on the front lines and is straining to hold back the bigger Russian army.
—Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
The most important development for last year’s Pelicans team was Williamson remaining (mostly) healthy throughout the regular season before straining his hamstring in a Play-In Tournament loss against the Lakers.
—Eric Koreen, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
Experts warn that prolonged severe weather could disrupt supplies, as seen during past winter storms, further straining the aging energy grid.
—Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
Ukraine has endured more than 1,000 days of conflict with Russia, which has steadily advanced westward, inflicting significant damage to the country's energy grid and straining its military capabilities.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
William Guillory, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
This will deepen the divide between the global North and South on issues of race and cultural difference, straining the West’s diplomatic relations with countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America while provoking broader resentment toward Western countries seen as perpetuating racial hierarchies.
—Matias Spektor, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
These are important strides for a club who have spent the past couple of years straining to survive, but TFG faces another significant test just weeks into its tenure.
—Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
Le Pen's remarks often sparked public outrage, but his influence shaped France's populist movement, with his inflammatory statements, including Holocaust denial, resulting in multiple convictions and straining his political alliances.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
Ukraine is short of troops on the front lines and is straining to hold back the bigger Russian army.
—Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
The most important development for last year’s Pelicans team was Williamson remaining (mostly) healthy throughout the regular season before straining his hamstring in a Play-In Tournament loss against the Lakers.
—Eric Koreen, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
Experts warn that prolonged severe weather could disrupt supplies, as seen during past winter storms, further straining the aging energy grid.
—Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
Ukraine has endured more than 1,000 days of conflict with Russia, which has steadily advanced westward, inflicting significant damage to the country's energy grid and straining its military capabilities.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straining
Verb
-
The Thunder trailed by 16 in the first half before pulling within 52-48 at halftime.—
Austin Knoblauch,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Jan. 2025
-
Goldy still has one of those markers - excessive pulling - sitting unused in front of him.—
Tony Blengino,
Forbes,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
In those 1930s films, the fast-talking lovers and schemers acknowledged the struggling world around them, if quietly (few films beyond Gold Diggers of 1933 made explicit reference to economic turmoil).—
Eric Kohn,
The Hollywood Reporter,
6 Jan. 2025
-
That means next year is going to be a struggle for the quarterback, who is already struggling.—
Brad Biggs,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Barkley said the Commanders brought more defenders near the box, tightening their approach against an offense without its dual-threat option.—
Brooks Kubena,
The Athletic,
22 Dec. 2024
-
If the Fed acts early and forcefully by tightening rates again, short-term yields may rise, but long-term yields may not do anything or even fall.—
Garth Friesen,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The Mets’ 3-1 Opening Day loss to the Houston Astros at Daikin Park featured a base-running blunder, a botched double play and a starting pitcher who was laboring by the fourth inning and was removed with two outs in the fifth.—
Abbey Mastracco,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2025
-
The Mets’ 3-1 Opening Day loss to the Houston Astros at Daikin Park featured a baserunning blunder, a botched double play and a starting pitcher who was laboring by the fourth inning and was removed with two outs in the fifth.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Nobody inside the Minnesota Wild locker room was trying to insult anybody’s intelligence by claiming a 1-goal win Monday night over the worst team in the NHL completely cured their recent ills.—
Michael Russo,
The Athletic,
24 Dec. 2024
-
And that might also be scaring some people off about trying to release a brand-new holiday movie, not based on a piece of IP at this time of year.—
Elizabeth Stanton,
Fox News,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
This means going beyond policies and quotas, striving instead for cultural norms where differences are not only accepted but celebrated.—
Mo Hamzian,
Forbes,
27 Dec. 2024
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Meanwhile, along his journey, Odysseus encounters iconic figures from Greek mythology, including the nymph Calypso, the sorceress Circe and the goddess Athena, all while striving to reunite with his family.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
26 Dec. 2024
Verb
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With this shift, AI is seeping into organizations of all shapes and sizes and requiring increasingly more data to be effective.—
Carlos Melendez,
Forbes,
9 Dec. 2024
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With memory foam for comfort and a design that prevents light from seeping in, this mask lets your eyes blink freely with zero pressure.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Nov. 2024
Verb
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With the MacBook Air launching earlier than the iPhone SE and ahead of the next Apple Intelligence update, this points to a press release launch and Apple pushing its consumer laptops further into the background.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
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That presents some planning opportunities, including possibly pushing some SALT payments into 2026.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Straining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straining. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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