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

The primary setting of the show is Manhattan Plaza, a subsidized apartment complex populated by artists and musicians, where Ali finds a sense of community while navigating a strained relationship with her mother, Jersey, and a budding romance. — Maya Santiago, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

Adela’s strained relationship with those tasked with caring for her grandmother, raises questions about who stays, who leaves and who inherits responsibility. — Callum McLennan, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

Meanwhile, strained yogurt remained mainly a homemade food in immigrant households until 1998, when FAGE began selling strained yogurt imported from Greece. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 11 Aug. 2026

Still, the Mets’ lineup is finally playing as intended, despite being without Juan Soto, who is out with a strained calf for the second time this season. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 9 Aug. 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