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

Giancarlo Stanton, who hasn’t played since April 24 because of strained calf muscles in both legs, remained on the 26-man roster for the best-of-five series starting Saturday. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

In France, for example, yields have been particularly shaky as the government contends with its record debt and strained budget. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Long queues of cars at fuel stations have been seen in major cities, while hits on Russia’s largest online retailers have increased pressure on the already strained wartime economy. — Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

His absence led to rumors of a strained relationship between the earl and his children. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 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