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
Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Viruses can mutate to escape from antibodies, but the mRNA vaccines are not causing the emergence of more virulent strains, likely for at least two reasons.
—Deborah Fuller, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
New & Noteworthy ACE Flex Comfort Compression Knee Sleeves provide compression to help relieve muscle and joint stiffness, soreness and swelling, and are recommended for mild arthritis, sprains and strains.
—Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
However, amid the confusion of new strains, changing vaccine guidelines and cuts to vaccine development funding, the CDC continues to track cases, hospitalizations and deaths on a weekly basis.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
LLMs are a new technology, and usage is skyrocketing, which is leading to strains on these systems and more frequent outages, according to research.
—Emily Acton, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Similar to the flu vaccine, the COVID-19 vaccines are updated annually to provide better protection against the strains of the virus in circulation during each year's respiratory virus season.
—Sarah Volpenhein, jsonline.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Histamine Allergy Some probiotic strains can cause a histamine reaction in the digestive tract.
—Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025
Some participants retained many donor strains, others very few.
—New Atlas, 7 Sep. 2025
Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 2 Sep. 2025
Chen is the wraith-like heart of this story, but her character strains belief even in a shaky hand of a movie that operates with all the internal logic of a gambling addiction.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2025
Her rough vocal take is filled with hurt; Williams strains her voice as each word turns into a yell.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
What are the symptoms of current COVID-19 strains?
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2025
Accommodation strains to keep pace with the growing number of visitors, prompting locals to invest in short-term rentals.
—Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2025
For those who are unfamiliar, Four Roses uses two different mashbills and five different yeast strains to produce its whiskey, yielding the 10 different recipes mentioned earlier.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 19 Aug. 2025
The film never strains for coming-of-age treacle.
—Michelle Kung, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Persistently high unemployment in California not only strains unemployment insurance and social services but also dampens consumer confidence, posing risks to the stability of the nation's largest state economy.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
Economists have ramped up calls for Beijing to unleash fiscal support as fresh data signals mounting economic strains.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Viruses can mutate to escape from antibodies, but the mRNA vaccines are not causing the emergence of more virulent strains, likely for at least two reasons.
—Deborah Fuller, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
New & Noteworthy ACE Flex Comfort Compression Knee Sleeves provide compression to help relieve muscle and joint stiffness, soreness and swelling, and are recommended for mild arthritis, sprains and strains.
—Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
However, amid the confusion of new strains, changing vaccine guidelines and cuts to vaccine development funding, the CDC continues to track cases, hospitalizations and deaths on a weekly basis.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
LLMs are a new technology, and usage is skyrocketing, which is leading to strains on these systems and more frequent outages, according to research.
—Emily Acton, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Similar to the flu vaccine, the COVID-19 vaccines are updated annually to provide better protection against the strains of the virus in circulation during each year's respiratory virus season.
—Sarah Volpenhein, jsonline.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Histamine Allergy Some probiotic strains can cause a histamine reaction in the digestive tract.
—Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025
Some participants retained many donor strains, others very few.
—New Atlas, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
There have also been big outbreaks in Africa of the other mpox strains.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 2 Sep. 2025
Chen is the wraith-like heart of this story, but her character strains belief even in a shaky hand of a movie that operates with all the internal logic of a gambling addiction.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2025
Her rough vocal take is filled with hurt; Williams strains her voice as each word turns into a yell.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
What are the symptoms of current COVID-19 strains?
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2025
Accommodation strains to keep pace with the growing number of visitors, prompting locals to invest in short-term rentals.
—Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2025
For those who are unfamiliar, Four Roses uses two different mashbills and five different yeast strains to produce its whiskey, yielding the 10 different recipes mentioned earlier.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 19 Aug. 2025
The film never strains for coming-of-age treacle.
—Michelle Kung, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Persistently high unemployment in California not only strains unemployment insurance and social services but also dampens consumer confidence, posing risks to the stability of the nation's largest state economy.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strains
Verb
-
Early’s script pulls from TV movies like Kate’s Secret and Perfect Body, while also referencing classic cinema like Suddenly, Last Summer and The Children’s Hour.—
Jourdain Searles,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The Farktop Trench Coat is a true fall staple that instantly pulls an outfit together and makes even sweats look polished.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Earth’s atmosphere filters out shorter wavelengths like blue and violet, refracting the longer red and orange wavelengths toward the moon.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Instead of going dark, some sunlight still reaches the moon, glowing red because Earth’s atmosphere bends and filters the sunlight.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But if a team struggles to run the ball or pass the ball, the head coach is left to praise… the kicking game.—
Howard Megdal,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Ansari’s main idea was to show the gig economy, and those stuck on the lower end of the economic scale’s struggles just to say alive.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Pour-over coffee maker Pour-over coffee makers, usually cones that sit atop cups or carafes à la Chemex, utilize a precise pouring technique (ideally from a gooseneck kettle) that blooms the grounds and extracts the best flavors as the coffee drips into the vessel below.—
Mark Marino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The younger Burnett will lead a ward that stretches from Cabrini Green and the future Bally’s Casino site to the soaring Fulton Market district and struggling Garfield Park.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The 11-story observation tower has two decks, one at 26 feet and the other at 126 feet, giving a view that stretches into Warren and Butler counties and downtown Cincinnati.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Although the brand shares that the formula tightens skin, my face felt balanced, refreshed, and hydrated.—
Tatayana Yomary,
Essence,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The Persons and Family Code law, making Burkina Faso the latest in a series of African countries to criminalize lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activity, also tightens rules on nationality and stateless people.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Head coach Brian Daboll of the New York Giants hugs Malik Nabers #1 after the game against the New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium on December 08, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The oldest neighborhood in Miami, Coconut Grove is a sedate enclave that hugs Biscayne Bay about a dozen miles from South Beach—but up to an hour by car during peak traffic—with the iconic Vizcaya Museum and Gardens as its cultural and architectural center.—
Mark David,
Robb Report,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This interaction damages skin cells and can trigger irritation, redness, stinging or burning.—
Leslie Baumann,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
-
If the power outage is specific to your home, say a lightning strike damages your electrical system, things change.—
Kristine Gill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strains. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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