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
Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Calf strains also sidelined Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura for the Lakers.
—CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Nevertheless, doctors still recommend getting the vaccine for partial protection from the more common strains of influenza.
—Kendrick Calfee
january 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
LeBron James didn’t play due to left joint arthritis and sciatica, joining Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura (both nursing calf strains) on the unavailable list as the Lakers (23-12) saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.
—Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
Obtaining full genetic fingerprints for everything that’s circulating over time can also help epidemiologists track how new strains move within a geographic location, like a city or county or between different communities that are further away from each other.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Morton finished out the year, but the fifth-year quarterback has already had shoulder surgery, dealt with tricep strains, entered concussion protocol multiple times and had issues with his throwing hand.
—Ty Kaplan, Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026
But even newish construction is subject to the strains of urban expansion and the increasingly volatile climate.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
Picking those strains is a bit of a gamble, but one made less risky by the work of more sophisticated labs, like CDC.
—NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Weinstein's attorneys are asking him to discard the conviction or, at least, conduct a hearing about the jury strains.
—CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Fire access, water, traffic, parks and open space are treated like inconveniences, even as existing infrastructure already strains to keep up.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
By splicing pop songs and familiar meme formats into cruel detainment footage, ICE strains to attract a younger demographic, hoping to convince people that the agency is a vibrant—and trollishly funny—organization engaged in the noble work of putting away bad guys.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
It was first spotted in New York in June, which was months after a decision was made about which strains to target in the 2025-2026 Northern Hemisphere flu shot.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 6 Jan. 2026
These gains matter as AI infrastructure strains power grids and data center budgets worldwide.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Jan. 2026
Such a wellspring of material is seemingly inexhaustible, though the show strains a bit when working to match the festival shooting as a crucible that pushes its cast to the breaking point.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026
The ban further strains aid operations even as Gaza’s over 2 million Palestinians still face a humanitarian crisis more than 12 weeks into a ceasefire.
—Sam Mednick, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
Doctors say getting the flu vaccine is still worth it to protect against other strains that may emerge this season.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Calf strains also sidelined Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura for the Lakers.
—CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Nevertheless, doctors still recommend getting the vaccine for partial protection from the more common strains of influenza.
—Kendrick Calfee
january 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
LeBron James didn’t play due to left joint arthritis and sciatica, joining Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura (both nursing calf strains) on the unavailable list as the Lakers (23-12) saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.
—Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
Obtaining full genetic fingerprints for everything that’s circulating over time can also help epidemiologists track how new strains move within a geographic location, like a city or county or between different communities that are further away from each other.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Morton finished out the year, but the fifth-year quarterback has already had shoulder surgery, dealt with tricep strains, entered concussion protocol multiple times and had issues with his throwing hand.
—Ty Kaplan, Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026
But even newish construction is subject to the strains of urban expansion and the increasingly volatile climate.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
Picking those strains is a bit of a gamble, but one made less risky by the work of more sophisticated labs, like CDC.
—NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
The war in Ukraine exposes these trans-Atlantic strains most acutely.
—Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Weinstein's attorneys are asking him to discard the conviction or, at least, conduct a hearing about the jury strains.
—CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Fire access, water, traffic, parks and open space are treated like inconveniences, even as existing infrastructure already strains to keep up.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
By splicing pop songs and familiar meme formats into cruel detainment footage, ICE strains to attract a younger demographic, hoping to convince people that the agency is a vibrant—and trollishly funny—organization engaged in the noble work of putting away bad guys.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
It was first spotted in New York in June, which was months after a decision was made about which strains to target in the 2025-2026 Northern Hemisphere flu shot.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 6 Jan. 2026
These gains matter as AI infrastructure strains power grids and data center budgets worldwide.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Jan. 2026
Such a wellspring of material is seemingly inexhaustible, though the show strains a bit when working to match the festival shooting as a crucible that pushes its cast to the breaking point.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026
The ban further strains aid operations even as Gaza’s over 2 million Palestinians still face a humanitarian crisis more than 12 weeks into a ceasefire.
—Sam Mednick, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strains
Verb
-
Ariana Grande pulls Teyana Taylor in for a tight squeeze after the latter won her award.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Joining Watkins for the sit-down with Deadline, Nurse John pulls back the curtain on his experience of his stratospheric rise, reflecting on the emotional impact of sudden viral visibility and the practical mechanics of turning internet attention into a sustainable live business.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Change filters regularly to keep the air clean and to prevent the HVAC system from having to work overtime to force air through a clogged filter.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Now, Scieszka’s debut filters Tuck Everlasting-esque immortality through the social media age—examining how someone hides their eternal lifespan from facial recognition technology and venture capitalists looking to capitalize upon family property and the ultimate anti-aging secrets.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Unable to pay her rent, she was later evicted and now struggles to come up with the $1,900 for her new place.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Harper, for her part, struggles to publicly defend a market position that’s based on a hunch and backed up by espionage.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Coffee drips through a metal filter, a slow process that creates a full-bodied cup of coffee.—
Arundhati Hazra,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile, the needles gather fog into dew, which drips onto the roots.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
2 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Russia, which stretches over half of the Arctic Ocean coastline, currently controls a majority of the region.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado established a similar team in her 14th District, which stretches from downtown to Northeast Los Angeles.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Japan’s push comes as China tightens its grip on critical mineral exports.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
-
But scenes like this continue to tell a different story as Iran's leadership only tightens its grip, including imposing a sweeping communications blackout that has seen the internet cut and international calls blocked.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The long-vacant office tower that hugs the highway is a familiar sight for the steady stream of vehicles traveling daily on the Interstate 84 viaduct, having gained notoriety two years ago after being painted with graffiti and tagged.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The green zone is a band of territory that hugs much of Gaza’s eastern perimeter and includes other areas seized through months of Israeli ground operations.—
Mohammed R. Mhawish,
New Yorker,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Political interference in mergers and acquisitions approvals and daily operations repels foreign investment and damages confidence in market operations.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
-
This damages the trunk and leaves an ugly, elongated canker that invites insects and stresses the tree, leading to stunted growth, sparse foliage, and stem dieback.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strains. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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