strained

1 of 2

adjective

ˈstrānd 

1

: done or produced with excessive effort

a strained smile

2

: pushed by antagonism near to open conflict

strained relations

strained

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of strain entry 2

Synonyms of strained

Adjective

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

Examples of strained in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

Prison healthcare systems under strain Even under normal weather conditions, prison healthcare systems are highly strained. — Jaquelyn Jahn, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026

Taiwan’s Lee Yun Chan won best director for To Be Ordinary, about a family whose strained relationships are tested by a devastating accident. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026

The group warned that even if refineries step up production of diesel into the year-end, inventories will likely remain strained until the second half of 2027. — Gabriel Cortés, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

Raman’s tendency to rethink her policy decisions has also contributed to her strained relations with her council colleagues, nearly all of whom are backing the mayor’s reelection bid. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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