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

Greenard, the team’s marquee offseason acquisition, suffered a strained pectoral muscle lifting weights before camp. — Zach Berman, New York Times, 30 July 2026

Yes, the excuses used to finally get them in the same frame together run the gamut from strained to getthefuckouttahere. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026

There is no frantic downshift, no strained exhaust note, and little sensation of mechanical effort. — Karl Brauer, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

This demand comes despite rising public animosity towards new data center construction, driven by local concerns surrounding strained power grids and rising electrical costs. — Paxton Honerkamp, CNBC, 26 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