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

Yields have been generally climbing there because of worries about the government's big debt load and strained budget. — Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026

Miami-Dade County Public Schools is down 15,848 students, a decline that could mean less state funding for the district and put new pressure on its already strained budget. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026

Adding density to urban areas can be controversial, as longtime residents worry about more traffic or strained infrastructure. — Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026

Yields have been generally climbing there because of worries about the government’s big debt load and strained budget. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 22 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