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
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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of straining
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
The more exacting work, however, awaits in the lab, where Ayikpa and others must manually count individual microfibers from each sample under a microscope, then repeat the eye-straining analysis with air samples from high-volume vacuum samplers and real-time sensors.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 28 May 2026
The 2026 Ebola outbreak in Central Africa continues to spread, straining fragile health systems and increasing regional risk.
—Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
That straining step concentrates what remains, producing the thicker texture and higher protein density Greek yogurt is known for.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 23 May 2026
High prices are angering voters and straining household budgets.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 22 May 2026
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
The more exacting work, however, awaits in the lab, where Ayikpa and others must manually count individual microfibers from each sample under a microscope, then repeat the eye-straining analysis with air samples from high-volume vacuum samplers and real-time sensors.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 28 May 2026
The 2026 Ebola outbreak in Central Africa continues to spread, straining fragile health systems and increasing regional risk.
—Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
That straining step concentrates what remains, producing the thicker texture and higher protein density Greek yogurt is known for.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 23 May 2026
High prices are angering voters and straining household budgets.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straining
Verb
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Some families are pulling back on travel as gas and groceries get more expensive worldwide.—
Anton L. Delgado,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
-
Down 3-0, the notion of the Padres pulling this one out seemed outdated.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
Verb
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That treatment gap is reviving interest in experimental blood-filtering devices that can physically remove viral particles from the bloodstream.—
Elie Dolgin,
IEEE Spectrum,
4 June 2026
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Advertisement If something comes back at unacceptable levels, filtering is the next step—and the right filter depends on what's in your water.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
After more than five innings of the Bulldogs trailing Liberty by one, struggling to get anything going, the Georgia third baseman crushed a two-run home run to left field.—
Sarah Spencer,
AJC.com,
1 June 2026
-
Hezbollah's use of hard-to-detect fiber optic drones has been deadly for the Israeli military, which is struggling to respond.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The cannister featured an image of an angry mutt with saliva dripping from its jaws.—
Peter Hessler,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
-
Add saucers under containers to catch water to prevent staining the balcony surface and reduce the amount of water dripping on the downstairs neighbors.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Even five minutes of slower breathing, stepping outside for sunlight, stretching or taking a short walk can help your body transition more smoothly into the day.—
Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
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The top viewpoint is Monte Gelbison, which on clear days offers views stretching as far as the island of Stromboli.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Add it up — traceability, biodiversity, climate adaptation, authenticity, chef demand and a tightening seed supply — and heritage sourcing is no longer niche.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
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The latest move comes as Beijing intensifies a broader cleanup of China’s financial sector under securities regulator Wu Qing, while simultaneously tightening oversight over cross-border capital flows and financial risk.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
Verb
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On a 75-mile cliff-hugging stretch of highway in California, traffic is way up, despite soaring gas prices.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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Now the latest batch of eaux de parfum is noticeably lighter, hugging the skin rather than announcing its presence.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
3 June 2026
Verb
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With evacuation shelters reaching capacity as more than 40,000 people were asked to leave their homes, officials laboring to prevent an explosion at a crippled chemical tank in Garden Grove reported tentative progress Sunday in ending the crisis.—
Deborah Netburn,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
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Makar has played in every game this postseason, but was clearly laboring in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Straining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straining. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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