1
: done or produced with excessive effort
a strained smile
2
: pushed by antagonism near to open conflict
strained relations
Examples of strained in a Sentence
He made a strained attempt at being polite.
I took the complaint manager's strained smile to mean I wasn't a welcome sight.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hernandez suffered a strained oblique muscle in his left side in just his second game back.
—
Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 28 May 2026
Inflation jumped for a second consecutive month in April as the Iran war drove up gasoline prices and strained household budgets, government data on Thursday showed.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 May 2026
Prosecutors alleged the teen intentionally crashed her car into a brick wall at nearly 100 mph in Strongsville, Ohio in July 2022 after her relationship with Russo reportedly became strained.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Putting on a happy face for the public may be difficult when relationships feel strained.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
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Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 28 May 2026
Inflation jumped for a second consecutive month in April as the Iran war drove up gasoline prices and strained household budgets, government data on Thursday showed.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 May 2026
Prosecutors alleged the teen intentionally crashed her car into a brick wall at nearly 100 mph in Strongsville, Ohio in July 2022 after her relationship with Russo reportedly became strained.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Putting on a happy face for the public may be difficult when relationships feel strained.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
Cite this Entry
“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strained. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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