strained

adjective

ˈstrānd 

1

: done or produced with excessive effort

a strained smile

2

: pushed by antagonism near to open conflict

strained relations

Synonyms of strained

• mock
• unnatural
• affected
• exaggerated
• false
• forced
• artificial
• contrived
• fake
• simulated
• mechanical
• assumed
• pseudo

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

But things between Harry and his older brother, Prince William, reportedly remain strained. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 July 2026

Increasing Spanish costs for defense, such as building forts and training militia, led to higher taxes and strained local economies. — Lindsay Schakenbach Regele, The Conversation, 13 July 2026

Housing affordability continues to plague buyers The new law arrives as housing affordability remains strained. — Sarah Agostino,mike Winters, CNBC, 11 July 2026

With temperatures in Boise on the verge of breaking into triple digits, one of the city’s daytime homeless shelters is sounding the alarm over strained services for residents. — Matan Josephy, Idaho Statesman, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for strained

• abstained
• arraigned
• attained
• bloodstained
• campaigned
• complained
• constrained
• contained
• curtained
• detained
• disdained
• distrained

Kids Definition

strained

adjective

ˈstrānd 

1

: not easy or natural : forced

a strained smile

2

: brought close to war

strained relations between countries