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

Together, the teams are evaluating multiple microbial strains, reactor designs, and production pathways to improve scalability, versatility, and long-term performance. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026

The situation is also symptomatic of broader strains on the country's higher education system, where grossly limited spots leave millions cramming for months, or even years, and high-stakes entrance exams leave many of them burnt out and in debt. — Sakshi Dayal, USA Today, 22 July 2026

In lieu of flowers, the family asked for contributions to a memorial fund, which will go directly to the family to assist with the sudden expenses and financial strains following this tragedy. — Susan Young, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026

The London saxophonist and his ensemble fuse jazz with diverse strains of global trance music—Moroccan gnawa, Berlin kosmische—into a hypnotic, utopian expression of spiritual union. — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 13 July 2026

Finger joint strains are the bane of long hours spent daily on the computer, which is what led Melvin Wong, founder and engineer at Airra Labs, to build a better computer mouse – the Rotary Mouse, which is currently on Kickstarter. — Shirl Leigh july 12, New Atlas, 12 July 2026

Though most cases of infection pass, some strains can lead to a life-threatening type of kidney failure, particularly in young children and older adults. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026

About 7 in 10 Jewish adults overall identify as Jewish when asked about their religious affiliation, according to the sweeping survey that touched on everything from views on Israel to antisemitism concerns and strains on interpersonal relations. — David Crary, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Children under 5 and adults 65 or over have the greatest vulnerability to these strains. — David J. Neal july 6, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026

Verb

Purple City Genetics, a long-standing cannabis nursery, breeder and seed producer based in Oakland, set up a display of some of its most popular cloned plants, including the Moroccan Peaches and Bolinas strains. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 19 July 2026

If your ambition strains your calendar, map the work in blocks and protect a buffer. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026

Fancher cautions that a partial blockage can turn into a full one fast when a house full of guests strains the plumbing. — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 4 July 2026

Overloading the machine strains parts, causes breakdowns, and leaves clothes improperly cleaned. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 3 July 2026

The cocktail neutralized a broad range of Nipah and Hendra virus strains, including viral variants that had already evolved resistance to single-antibody treatments. — William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Standard data facility cooling mechanisms evaporate significant quantities of water, which strains local infrastructure. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 July 2026

Some research suggests that probiotics, especially strains like Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium, may help reduce symptoms of acid reflux and GERD, such as heartburn and regurgitation. — Verywell Health, 1 July 2026

For example, a heavy planter that strains fence panels or vines that cause moisture damage could become a legitimate concern. — Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 30 June 2026