Synonyms of strains

strains 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of strain

1

as in lineages

the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended

descended from a strain of Irish seafarers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lineages
• ancestries
• pedigrees
• genealogies
• origins
• families
• descents
• extractions
• blood
• stocks
• bloodlines
• births
• breedings
• lines
• family trees
• parentages
• relatives
• relations
• successions
• races
• houses
• kins
• heredities
• kindreds

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• issues
• seed
• progenies
• offspring
• children
• sons
• posterities
• successors
• heirs
• inheritors

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

• melodies
• songs
• tunes
• hymns
• airs
• warbles
• lyrics
• lays
• rhythms
• cadences
• ballads
• meters
• measures
• descants
• ditties
• madrigals

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

• splashes
• specks
• sprinklings
• glimmers
• touches
• hints
• little
• licks
• bits
• traces
• particles
• sparks
• suspicions
• dabs
• shadows
• shades
• flecks
• rays
• streaks
• shreds
• smells
• mites
• drams
• scruples
• ounces
• slivers
• driblets
• peanuts
• spots
• nips
• soupçons
• handfuls
• bites
• parts
• molecules
• spatters
• drops
• grains
• pinches
• smacks
• crumbs
• syllables
• scintillas
• tastes
• snaps
• doses
• skoshes
• aces
• dashes
• fragments
• minims
• drops in the bucket
• smidgens
• atoms
• vestiges
• patches
• sections
• minima
• dots
• granules
• portions
• motes
• semblances
• flyspecks
• nibbles
• splinters
• morsels
• smatterings
• scraps
• shivers
• shards
• flakes
• hoots
• nubbins
• modicums
• whits
• scatterings
• jots
• iotas
• chips
• smatters
• tittles
• clippings
• parings
• tatters
• shavings
• shots
• smithereens

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• quantities
• loads
• masses
• mountains
• piles
• barrels
• bundles
• abundances
• stacks
• buckets
• rafts
• bushels
• volumes
• deals
• lots
• reams
• heaps
• messes
• wealths
• wads
• pecks
• scads
• gobs
• oodles
• fistfuls
• boatloads
• excesses
• lashings
• surpluses
• profusions
• embarrassments
• much
• potfuls
• plenties
• overflows
• passels
• slabs
• overages
• bonanzas
• superfluities
• chunks
• lumps
• overmuch
• hunks
• oversupplies
• overabundances
• surfeits
• overkills
• superabundances

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

• types
• kinds
• genres
• varieties
• sorts
• stripes
• breeds
• species
• natures
• descriptions
• kidneys
• classes
• manners
• feathers
• likes
• persuasions
• ilks
• samples
• orders
• categories
• specimens
• models
• groups
• families
• groupings
• ranks
• brackets
• suites
• divisions
• sets
• grades
• bunches
• lots

strains

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of strain

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

• stresses
• pressures
• tensions
• worries
• loads
• anxieties
• concerns
• weights
• irritations
• persecutions
• troubles
• angers
• exasperations
• annoyances
• aggravations

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• comforts
• consolations

strains

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of strain

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

• pulls
• damages
• bruises
• stretches
• hurts
• racks
• weakens
• wounds
• tears
• wrenches
• taxes
• harms
• frays
• impairs
• lames
• cripples
• batters
• mutilates
• mangles

2

as in filters

to pass through a filter

better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out

Synonyms & Similar Words

• filters
• screens
• percolates
• leaches

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

• struggles
• labors
• strives
• works
• endeavors
• slaves
• tugs
• toils
• sweats
• tries
• plows
• humps
• travails
• hustles
• plugs
• grubs
• pegs (away)
• bangs away
• digs (away)
• fags
• drudges
• sweats blood
• plods
• attacks
• moils
• buckles (down)
• slogs
• applies (oneself)
• beavers (away)
• exercises
• hammers (away)
• knuckles down
• pitches in
• scratches
• essays
• exerts
• grinds (out)
• drives
• digs in
• overworks
• ekes out
• overexerts
• wades
• trudges
• puts out
• scrabbles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• breaks
• eases (up)
• slackens
• chills
• slacks (off)
• lets up
• lounges
• goofs (off)
• hangs (around or out)
• lazes
• goldbricks
• rests
• bums
• loafs
• shirks
• dillydallies
• dallies
• idles
• unwinds
• hacks (around)
• plays
• relaxes
• footles
• basks
• reposes
• lolls
• hangs
• fools around
• fribbles
• trifles
• hangs about
• vegges out
• messes around
• doodles
• goofs (around)
• dabbles
• potters (around)
• monkeys (around)
• putters (around)

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

• drips
• flows
• seeps
• percolates
• exudes
• oozes
• sweats
• bleeds
• weeps
• transudes
• springs
• emanates
• trickles
• gives off
• emits
• dribbles
• vents
• discharges

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• streams
• surges
• floods
• pours
• gushes

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

• stretches
• tests
• tries
• gets (to)
• pushes
• taxes
• pressures
• pains
• annoys
• demands
• bothers
• irritates
• exasperates
• aggravates
• presses
• harasses
• importunes
• irks
• grates
• exacts
• nettles
• hassles
• galls
• vexes
• gnaws (at)
• riles
• pesters
• agitates
• peeves
• harries
• spites

6

as in tightens

to draw tight

the dog strained its leash trying to get to the cat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tightens
• tenses
• stretches
• tautens
• elongates
• lengthens
• extends
• constricts
• cinches

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slacks
• loosens
• eases
• slackens
• relaxes

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

• hugs
• clasps
• cradles
• clings
• embraces
• wraps
• crushes
• bear-hugs
• enfolds
• grasps
• enclasps
• grabs
• clamps
• holds
• grips
• folds
• locks
• snuggles
• envelops
• pats
• strokes
• pets
• entwines
• twines
• bosoms
• embosoms
• encircles
• enwinds
• cuddles
• nuzzles
• nestles
• fondles

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of strains

Noun

Coach Billy Donovan cited Giddey’s extensive record with ankle tweaks and strains — including a notable one at the end of last season — as a source of confidence for the medical team in Giddey’s discretion regarding his injuries. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026

Meanwhile, there are several strains of the flu circulating. —Hali Smith march 5, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026

This drives up taxpayer costs and additionally strains already overextended local services. —Deyanira Nevárez Martínez, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026

Pierce noted recent downturns in the mining and forest products industries have led to operational strains. —Peter Passi, Twin Cities, 3 Mar. 2026

However, the toxicity of the perchlorate necessitated the researchers to find more robust strains of the bacteria to resist the oxidizing effects. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 3 Mar. 2026

Just like influenza viruses found in humans, there are different subtypes and strains of swine influenza viruses. —Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026

The early shape of Tuesday’s vote deepened those strains. —Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026

Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson remained out with hamstring strains. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2026

Verb

The monthlong exhibition strains Assisi’s medieval streets and services, with officials expecting nearly half a million pilgrims through the mountainside city. —Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026

Writer-director Kermani, who previously demonstrated her horror bona-fides with Lucky and Abraham’s Boys, strains mightily but fails to match the brilliant eeriness of the Japanese film that served as her inspiration. —Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 19 Feb. 2026

Chronic stress strains your heart, impedes immune function, interferes with digestion, even risks impairing focus and memory. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 19 Feb. 2026

Kennedy has spasmodic dysphonia, also called laryngeal dystonia, a condition that strains his speech. —Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026

Reaching backward or twisting around other people to grab a bag is awkward and strains muscles. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2026

According to Stewart, the more frequently your vacuum clogs, the more the motor strains, and vice versa. —Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026

Countries rely on the WHO for its recommendation on which strains to target every year. —Joseph Choi, The Hill, 11 Feb. 2026

This affordable probiotic has one of the most common types of beneficial bacteria strains to help balance the gut. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026