1
as in lineages
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
descended from a strain of Irish seafarers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in melodies
a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect
the strain of an old Irish ballad rose up from the revelers downstairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in splashes
a very small amount
detected a strain of panic in her voice when she asked if the substance was poisonous
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in types
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common
writes mystery novels of a more sophisticated strain
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in stresses
the burden on one's emotional or mental well-being created by demands on one's time
the family's constant moving is putting a real strain on the children
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pulls
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
2
as in filters
to pass through a filter
better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in struggles
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 drips
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 stretches
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
7
as in hugs
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 strains
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
Heritage strains tend to be grown with fewer pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, and some people who react poorly to modern wheat tolerate them better.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026
For sake production, Isbell primarily grows the 100 year-old Yamada Nishiki variety, which is typically harvested at the same time as traditional strains of rice in Arkansas -- so between late August to mid-October, based on conditions.
—John Magsam, Arkansas Online, 2 June 2026
Costlier crude stokes inflation worries and lifts Treasury yields, putting pressure on smaller and rate-sensitive companies even as investors wager a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could eventually ease energy strains.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
The score by Amine Bouhafa and Isabelle Laudenbach — the director’s sister, and also an accomplished flamenco guitarist — deftly interpolates scraps and strains of Bizet’s original compositions, stripped of operatic excess and given a folky lilt.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 May 2026
But dealing with the crisis at GKN Aerospace has put other strains on city resources.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
These included the loss of his father, the loss of his mentor, Trey Johnson, dealing with financial strains and other serious health issues that doctors initially were unable to diagnose.
—Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
Circulating strains also play a role in the spread.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 3 June 2026
Probiotic supplements can also vary significantly in quality, number, and types of bacteria strains.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 2 June 2026
Some public health specialists have suggested that Bundibugyo may be slightly less deadly than other Ebola strains.
—Will Gretsky, ABC News, 1 June 2026
The diplomat's patience strains against the psychologist's reading of urgency.
—Rafael Pimentel Pinto, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Cities are just starting to get a handle on the costs associated with the crisis, including fire and police department costs and strains on city resources.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
His voice strains slightly to reach the high note.
—Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2026
Yet Abigaëlle’s obsession with finding her father looms large on the family and strains the relationships between siblings and mother.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 19 May 2026
While probiotics may help some people in certain situations, researchers still don’t fully understand which strains work best for specific people — or whether many supplements survive long enough in the gut to make a difference.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026
Noun
These older strains of wheat and grains have been gaining more and more attention as they’re sometimes better tolerated than mass market wheats by many folks adversely affected by gluten.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
Heritage strains tend to be grown with fewer pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, and some people who react poorly to modern wheat tolerate them better.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026
For sake production, Isbell primarily grows the 100 year-old Yamada Nishiki variety, which is typically harvested at the same time as traditional strains of rice in Arkansas -- so between late August to mid-October, based on conditions.
—John Magsam, Arkansas Online, 2 June 2026
Costlier crude stokes inflation worries and lifts Treasury yields, putting pressure on smaller and rate-sensitive companies even as investors wager a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could eventually ease energy strains.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
The score by Amine Bouhafa and Isabelle Laudenbach — the director’s sister, and also an accomplished flamenco guitarist — deftly interpolates scraps and strains of Bizet’s original compositions, stripped of operatic excess and given a folky lilt.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 May 2026
But dealing with the crisis at GKN Aerospace has put other strains on city resources.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
These included the loss of his father, the loss of his mentor, Trey Johnson, dealing with financial strains and other serious health issues that doctors initially were unable to diagnose.
—Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
Circulating strains also play a role in the spread.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Verb
Yeast strains that may have lain dormant in the mummy for millennia, some of which were specially adapted to extreme cold, may still be metabolically active, a new study published in Microbiome finds.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 3 June 2026
Probiotic supplements can also vary significantly in quality, number, and types of bacteria strains.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 2 June 2026
Some public health specialists have suggested that Bundibugyo may be slightly less deadly than other Ebola strains.
—Will Gretsky, ABC News, 1 June 2026
The diplomat's patience strains against the psychologist's reading of urgency.
—Rafael Pimentel Pinto, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Cities are just starting to get a handle on the costs associated with the crisis, including fire and police department costs and strains on city resources.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
His voice strains slightly to reach the high note.
—Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2026
Yet Abigaëlle’s obsession with finding her father looms large on the family and strains the relationships between siblings and mother.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 19 May 2026
While probiotics may help some people in certain situations, researchers still don’t fully understand which strains work best for specific people — or whether many supplements survive long enough in the gut to make a difference.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strains
Noun
-
Crocodilian ancestors have persisted through mass extinctions, dramatic climate shifts and ecological upheavals that have eradicated countless other lineages.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
To uncover this, a new analytical method was designed to compare gene expression profiles across diverse animal lineages and unicellular organisms.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
This is where Coleman works out the melodies and hooks for songs, which his friend since fifth grade, Michael Finster—who kids know as Bearhead—then produces to make the finished pieces.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
29 May 2026
-
Higher melodies interweave with the main riff, capping off the record’s most rhythmically dynamic cut.—
Raphael Helfand,
Pitchfork,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The locks are designed for outdoor installations too, with an IP65 weather resistance rating for protection against rain, splashes and dust.—
Paul Lamkin,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
Try your coffee warm or iced, with some cinnamon and a few splashes of unsweetened almond milk.—
Karen Berger,
Verywell Health,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
There are styles and prints for all tastes and body types.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
29 May 2026
-
Jerry Lanuzza, associate professor at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, North Carolina, explains how to store alcohol, whether alcohol goes bad, and how long different types will last.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Some television creators aim to provide audiences with an escape from the stresses of living in a tumultuous world.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
28 May 2026
-
But everyone involved stresses that Haitian authorities have to be ready to do their part, including addressing the overwhelming number of children who are part of the gangs.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
The pillow is filled with shredded memory foam gel that pulls heat away from your head, neck, and shoulders to prevent overheating.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
Google search pulls from the same information as Google News, even though the two sites are technically separate.—
Michael Muchmore,
PC Magazine,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Check how often filters need swapping and how much replacements cost.—
Ryan Brennan
May 26,
Kansas City Star,
26 May 2026
-
Since the human brain filters information aggressively, shorter and simpler messages are the ones that stick.—
Carmine Gallo,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
In it, a Native Hawaiian family struggles to reclaim the ancestral lands that colonization, tourism, and rampant development threaten to overrun.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
-
Over the last few years, Keira has lost her ability to speak, has started having seizures, and struggles more and more with walking.—
Elise Esposito,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strains. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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