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
Her breathing grew strained and wheezy.
—
Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026
Centrist leaders in the United Kingdom, France and Germany resist spending a larger percentage of their strained budgets defending against a Russian threat that their far-right populist opponents might think can be easily negotiated away.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, newer, more efficient AI models may make massive data centers obsolete, while strained energy grids could lead to high operational as well as environmental costs, undermining economic unviability.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Pour the strained grease into an ice cube tray.
—Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strained
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Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026
Centrist leaders in the United Kingdom, France and Germany resist spending a larger percentage of their strained budgets defending against a Russian threat that their far-right populist opponents might think can be easily negotiated away.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, newer, more efficient AI models may make massive data centers obsolete, while strained energy grids could lead to high operational as well as environmental costs, undermining economic unviability.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Pour the strained grease into an ice cube tray.
—Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 24 Feb. 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 1 Mar. 2026.
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