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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of strains
Kathryn Hughes, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
Tariffs have been one of the biggest strains on the food and beverage industry of late.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026
Grade 2 hamstring strains sometimes require several weeks of recovery, but Doncic also has prior experience with hamstring issues.
—CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Cybersecurity vendor Zscaler spotted a hacker exploiting interest in the Claude Code leak to push two malware strains, Vidar and Ghostsocks.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026
The district is facing strains due to aging infrastructure, low enrollment and utility costs.
—Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2026
Certain strains can cause severe disease.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
At least for now, Bath’s example illustrates the possibilities in terms of both promise and avenues for development—by emulating nature (selecting hardy strains of Bacillus) and pharmaceutical engineering (capsule technology), civil engineers are rethinking concrete from the inside out.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2026
Higher gas prices are impacting consumers and businesses as many households continue to face wider cost of living strains.
—David Schutz, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Currently, scientists must predict which strains of flu virus will be prevalent in the coming season months in advance.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2026
As Kyle’s forehead strains against its Botox and Dorit visibly joneses for a cigarette, her mind is back in the pool that morning.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
Zelenskyy’s trip comes as the Pentagon was weighing redirecting the equipment and weapons intended for Ukraine to the Middle East, according to The Washington Post, as the conflict with Iran strains existing American munitions stockpiles.
—Anniek Bao,sam Meredith, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
Every year, scientists try to predict months in advance which strains will be circulating in the coming flu and COVID-19 season.
—Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
The same crisis that proves the value of renewable energy investment also raises inflation, tightens credit and strains the very public finances these countries need to keep building.
—Ezgi Canpolat, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
Travelers across the country are encountering unusually long airport security lines as a partial federal government shutdown strains the Transportation Security Administration.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Mar. 2026
Travelers have been facing additional jams at airport security checkpoints as a partial government shutdown strains screener staffing.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 17 Mar. 2026
Noun
These nursery best sellers were intended to give young readers a grounding in emerging strains of scientific thought.
—Kathryn Hughes, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
Tariffs have been one of the biggest strains on the food and beverage industry of late.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026
Grade 2 hamstring strains sometimes require several weeks of recovery, but Doncic also has prior experience with hamstring issues.
—CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Cybersecurity vendor Zscaler spotted a hacker exploiting interest in the Claude Code leak to push two malware strains, Vidar and Ghostsocks.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026
The district is facing strains due to aging infrastructure, low enrollment and utility costs.
—Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2026
Certain strains can cause severe disease.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
At least for now, Bath’s example illustrates the possibilities in terms of both promise and avenues for development—by emulating nature (selecting hardy strains of Bacillus) and pharmaceutical engineering (capsule technology), civil engineers are rethinking concrete from the inside out.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2026
Higher gas prices are impacting consumers and businesses as many households continue to face wider cost of living strains.
—David Schutz, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
Experts have also warned that the cost of bottled water will soon increase, as the oil crisis strains the plastics industry.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Currently, scientists must predict which strains of flu virus will be prevalent in the coming season months in advance.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2026
As Kyle’s forehead strains against its Botox and Dorit visibly joneses for a cigarette, her mind is back in the pool that morning.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
Zelenskyy’s trip comes as the Pentagon was weighing redirecting the equipment and weapons intended for Ukraine to the Middle East, according to The Washington Post, as the conflict with Iran strains existing American munitions stockpiles.
—Anniek Bao,sam Meredith, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
Every year, scientists try to predict months in advance which strains will be circulating in the coming flu and COVID-19 season.
—Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
The same crisis that proves the value of renewable energy investment also raises inflation, tightens credit and strains the very public finances these countries need to keep building.
—Ezgi Canpolat, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
Travelers across the country are encountering unusually long airport security lines as a partial federal government shutdown strains the Transportation Security Administration.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Mar. 2026
Travelers have been facing additional jams at airport security checkpoints as a partial government shutdown strains screener staffing.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strains
Verb
-
But then Vivian abruptly disappears without a trace, sending Taylor on a search for answers that pulls her into the Knox itself—as their new employee.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
But earlier versions required long and forceful trigger pulls and had never caught on.—
Simon Akam,
Vanity Fair,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Its integrated spotlight and Color Night Vision keep your perimeter secure 24/7, while its smart AI detection filters out false alerts.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Other best practices include regular pet grooming, changing HVAC filters regularly, using doormats, and washing bedding weekly.—
Sunshine Flint,
Architectural Digest,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Most important for companies considering replacing patches of their workforce with AI, the MIT data suggests AI struggles to perform more complicated tasks.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Peet plays a therapist who struggles with her own mental health and the health and familial changes that occur during midlife.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Love drips off every auto-focus shot.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The result is a warm, bold, addictive fragrance that drips with sensuality and femininity, down to the curves of its signature gold and glass figure-eight amphora.—
Claire Salinda,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Another is expected to take shape in Councilmember Rick Jennings’ district, which stretches from Land Park to the Pocket.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Graves’ exit has sparked intense speculation about his potential successor to represent Missouri’s 6th Congressional District, which stretches across northern Missouri and touches Kansas City’s Northland.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Global oil prices have surged as Iran tightens its grip on the Strait of Hormuz and attacks regional energy infrastructure, pushing Brent crude to around $107 a barrel, more than 45 percent higher than before the war began.—
Sam Stevenson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Elevated cortisol further disrupts the hormones already in flux, and the cycle tightens over time.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Lake County portion hugs the shoreline south to Lake Cook Road and continues west to the eastern part of Buffalo Grove.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
-
President Barack Obama hugs Shigeaki Mori at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial park cenotaph in Hiroshima on May 27, 2016.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Children are more likely to suffer from HUS, which damages blood vessels, according to the Mayo Clinic.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
-
This exposure damages the DNA in skin cells and can trigger changes that cause those cells to grow out of control and turn cancerous.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strains. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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