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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of straining
Add ingredients to shaking tin and shake hard for 10 seconds then pour it directly into a rocks glass without straining.
—
Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2026
Some audience members shout callouts, but not loudly or consistently enough to register, leaving the cast awkwardly straining to acknowledge jokes that barely land.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are also straining US weapons production, expanding opportunities for Japan.
—CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
This practice reduces straining and prevents waste from lingering, which helps sustain your microbiome health.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 16 Apr. 2026
Iran internet blackout enters 46th day, straining economy Web traffic in the country is around 1% of prewar levels; Starlink is blocked using military-grade jamming, Tom’s Hardware reported, and possession of a terminal is a crime anyway.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Rather than use a standard shopping basket or bag, the man’s backpack appeared to be bulging at the seams — its straps straining under the weight of unidentified and clearly heavy cargo.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Homelessness is another of California’s most urgent crises, touching every community and straining every county’s capacity.
—Susan Ellenberg, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
Higher oil prices are straining import-dependent economies, while currency volatility is forcing some central banks to intervene more actively in foreign exchange markets, said market watchers.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2026
Some audience members shout callouts, but not loudly or consistently enough to register, leaving the cast awkwardly straining to acknowledge jokes that barely land.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are also straining US weapons production, expanding opportunities for Japan.
—CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
This practice reduces straining and prevents waste from lingering, which helps sustain your microbiome health.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 16 Apr. 2026
Iran internet blackout enters 46th day, straining economy Web traffic in the country is around 1% of prewar levels; Starlink is blocked using military-grade jamming, Tom’s Hardware reported, and possession of a terminal is a crime anyway.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Rather than use a standard shopping basket or bag, the man’s backpack appeared to be bulging at the seams — its straps straining under the weight of unidentified and clearly heavy cargo.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Homelessness is another of California’s most urgent crises, touching every community and straining every county’s capacity.
—Susan Ellenberg, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
Higher oil prices are straining import-dependent economies, while currency volatility is forcing some central banks to intervene more actively in foreign exchange markets, said market watchers.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straining
Verb
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All of which is great news for Adam Silver and everyone else pulling a paycheck from the league.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Seated calf raises can lower post-meal blood sugar spikes by gradually pulling glucose from the bloodstream.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The department claims that forty-seven cents of every federal dollar given to states is wasted on regulatory compliance, and Burke and McMahon plan to release more federal money as direct block grants to states, rather than filtering it through Ed.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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This week, the FDA flexed its regulatory authority to approve the first medicine to treat focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, or FSGS, a rare disease in which scar tissue builds up in the filtering units of the kidneys, eventually leading to organ dysfunction and failure.—
Adam Feuerstein,
STAT,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the city morphs into a luxury tourist destination, struggling small businesses are pushing to retain the character that drew many tourists in the first place.—
Laura Millan,
Bloomberg,
27 Apr. 2026
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If your friend is lonely or struggling to establish her identity without her sister living in the house, time with friends and time intentionally getting to know herself will be more productive.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Always place the package on a plate or inside a container—raw meat dripping onto produce or leftovers is one of the most common sources of cross-contamination in the home kitchen.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
19 Apr. 2026
-
That, of course, and the occasional ghostly presences, unsettling cries, and blood dripping from the ceiling.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Reznik said while the San Gabriel River system and adjacent spreading grounds, stretching from Irwindale to Long Beach, work exceptionally well, capturing 90% of the local runoff that percolates into underground basins for later use, that’s not true of some other waterways in the county.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
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Completed in 1981 but recently updated, the five-bedroom, four-bath dwelling comes with white oak hardwood floors, wood-beam ceilings, wide arched doorways, and oversized picture windows overlooking bicoastal views stretching from Moloka’i to Lana’i.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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American Airlines is tightening battery rules, requiring chargers to stay visible and accessible during flights.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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Other interventions, like non-surgical or surgical skin tightening procedures, can be helpful complements, too.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This past month, Vrabel and the former The Athletic reporter were seen holding hands and hugging at the luxury resort in Arizona.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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The images showed Vrabel and Russini, 43, hugging and holding hands at a luxury hotel in Arizona.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Trump poses as a pro-worker force, but his policies are atrocious for the laboring class.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Put differently, eliminating tax on overtime reduces the number of hours each day that hourly workers are laboring not for themselves or their families but for the government.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Straining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straining. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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