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
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
23 June 2026
Players might also take scissors to their socks as a solution to ward off cramping or reduce muscle strains and fatigue during a grueling 90-minute game.
—
Alex Connor,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
Bacteria carrying resistance genes survive; susceptible strains do not.
—
Robert Glatter,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Each capsule features 16 probiotic strains, many of which have been scientifically shown to support vaginal pH balance and women’s health.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
All the stresses and strains get to you and you’re just done.
—
Nasser Hussain,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Then, as the prime minister began to speak, protesters on nearby Whitehall blared out the choral strains of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, the anthem of the European Union, which Britain voted to leave a decade ago.
—
Joe Mayes,
Fortune,
22 June 2026
For example, some strains of probiotics can lower the risk of diarrhea from antibiotics and severe complications for preterm infants.
—
Will Stone,
NPR,
22 June 2026
Spora describes itself as an end-to-end innovator, hunting for different fungal strains in biodiverse regions such as Patagonia and the Amazon.
—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
23 June 2026
Albert’s prose sometimes strains for lyricism, but the mysteries embedded in the novel—creative, familial, and supernatural—exert a powerful draw.
—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Moderna officials noted that flu strains for each fall’s vaccines now are chosen several months earlier than the yearly recipe update for COVID-19 shots that mostly are mRNA-based — and there can be a mismatch if the flu virus mutates after the recipe is made.
—
Lauran Neergaard,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
The last possibility is the one that strains the current regulatory approach, in which the government waits for a technology to settle before studying its effects and writing rules around them.
—
Craig S. Smith,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Cape Fear strains credulity a little by making Natalie too easy a mark.
—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
Manufacturers must decide months in advance which strains to target, giving the virus time to evolve.
—
Berkeley Lovelace Jr,
NBC news,
18 June 2026
As part of the rainbow trout’s expansion across the country, a couple strains from Washington State were stocked long ago into the Great Lakes.
—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
18 June 2026
Moderna officials said flu strains for the fall vaccines now are chosen in February — several months sooner than the yearly recipe update for COVID-19 shots that mostly are mRNA-based — and there can be a mismatch if the flu virus mutates after the recipe is made.
—
Matthew Perrone,
Chicago Tribune,
18 June 2026
Noun
With the country cash-strapped, the Arab Spring of 2011 set off a wave of mass migration into Europe, which coincided with the widespread perception that the extra numbers were placing further strains on already creaking resources of jobs, housing and healthcare.
—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
23 June 2026
Players might also take scissors to their socks as a solution to ward off cramping or reduce muscle strains and fatigue during a grueling 90-minute game.
—
Alex Connor,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
Bacteria carrying resistance genes survive; susceptible strains do not.
—
Robert Glatter,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Each capsule features 16 probiotic strains, many of which have been scientifically shown to support vaginal pH balance and women’s health.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
All the stresses and strains get to you and you’re just done.
—
Nasser Hussain,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Then, as the prime minister began to speak, protesters on nearby Whitehall blared out the choral strains of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, the anthem of the European Union, which Britain voted to leave a decade ago.
—
Joe Mayes,
Fortune,
22 June 2026
For example, some strains of probiotics can lower the risk of diarrhea from antibiotics and severe complications for preterm infants.
—
Will Stone,
NPR,
22 June 2026
Spora describes itself as an end-to-end innovator, hunting for different fungal strains in biodiverse regions such as Patagonia and the Amazon.
—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
Verb
Since its revival in the early 2000s, Kentucky distillery Four Roses has been known for making excellent bourbon using 10 different recipes, the result of having two mashbills and five yeast strains at its disposal.
—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
23 June 2026
Albert’s prose sometimes strains for lyricism, but the mysteries embedded in the novel—creative, familial, and supernatural—exert a powerful draw.
—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Moderna officials noted that flu strains for each fall’s vaccines now are chosen several months earlier than the yearly recipe update for COVID-19 shots that mostly are mRNA-based — and there can be a mismatch if the flu virus mutates after the recipe is made.
—
Lauran Neergaard,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
The last possibility is the one that strains the current regulatory approach, in which the government waits for a technology to settle before studying its effects and writing rules around them.
—
Craig S. Smith,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Cape Fear strains credulity a little by making Natalie too easy a mark.
—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
Manufacturers must decide months in advance which strains to target, giving the virus time to evolve.
—
Berkeley Lovelace Jr,
NBC news,
18 June 2026
As part of the rainbow trout’s expansion across the country, a couple strains from Washington State were stocked long ago into the Great Lakes.
—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
18 June 2026
Moderna officials said flu strains for the fall vaccines now are chosen in February — several months sooner than the yearly recipe update for COVID-19 shots that mostly are mRNA-based — and there can be a mismatch if the flu virus mutates after the recipe is made.
—
Matthew Perrone,
Chicago Tribune,
18 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strains
Noun
-
Here, however, entire evolutionary lineages may be emerging across archipelagos separated by distances that seem relatively minor on a map.
-
Once this was confirmed, the team started checking fossil collections in other museums across America, looking for youngsters of other ancient lineages to see whether the missing tadpole phase was a broader evolutionary trend.
Noun
-
The rhythm section is downright molten, an understated, earthy sway beneath Davis’ soaring melodies.
-
Vocals have an offhand nonchalance instead of hogging the spotlight, melodies sneak up on you rather than announce themselves, and the guitars avoid crunchy riffs and overdriven twang in favor of tart rambling and clean supporting chords.
Noun
-
Many of the paintings include a portrait of a Pullman porter or a maid surrounded by splashes of color and fragments of archival documents — newspaper clippings, timesheets, employee records.
-
For outdoor use, the D2 Pro adds 270mm of ground clearance, IP65 protection against dust, mud, and water splashes, and a carbon steel frame for everyday durability.
Noun
-
Once open, the program will provide transitional housing and on-site services to people who are chronically homeless and struggling with drug addiction, mental health or all types of disabilities.
-
But the total tally obscures how there were basically two types of Davis residents, those living close to the project and those living elsewhere in town.
Noun
-
Bobby navigates old friendships while dealing with the stresses of being an entrepreneur.
-
That includes measuring aerodynamic loads, vibration levels, airflow conditions, and other stresses encountered during flight.
Verb
-
Sandoval seemingly tries to wrestle the phone from her before her father tries to intervene and pulls Sandoval off of her.
-
Anthropic did not build Claude Tag as a standalone destination that pulls work out of a company's existing tools.
Verb
-
The team filters in slowly, following a late game the night before.
-
Some portion of light inevitably filters through.
Verb
-
Laila struggles to balance her musicianship with her social life.
-
In Proof, how has playing Robert, who’s brilliant but also struggles with mental health, stretched or transformed your range?
Cite this Entry
“Strains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strains. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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