1
as in lineage
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
descended from a strain of Irish seafarers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in shred
a very small amount
detected a strain of panic in her voice when she asked if the substance was poisonous
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in type
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common
writes mystery novels of a more sophisticated strain
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in stress
the burden on one's emotional or mental well-being created by demands on one's time
the family's constant moving is putting a real strain on the children
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
3
as in to struggle
to devote serious and sustained effort
the whole department is straining to complete the project before the deadline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to drip
to flow forth slowly through small openings
put the cooked fruit in a cheesecloth bag and let the juice strain into a pan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to stretch
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
strained her memory but the name just wouldn't come to her
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
7
as in to hug
to put one's arms around and press tightly
the woman tenderly strained to her breast the child that she had long ago given up for dead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strain
Robert O. Keohane, Foreign Affairs, 2 June 2025
Cousins To Begin Rehab Assignment Jake Cousins (flexor strain, pec) is scheduled to start a rehab assignment on Tuesday, Boone said.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 1 June 2025
Toni Sutton, People.com, 3 June 2025
This includes among other activities, the entity’s instrumental work on multiple Ebola crises in Africa and worldwide measles outbreaks, as well as seasonal influenza strain sequencing used to develop annual flu shots.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for strain
Noun
The usual strains of interdependence have been made much worse by China’s export juggernaut, which is not letting up.
—Robert O. Keohane, Foreign Affairs, 2 June 2025
Cousins To Begin Rehab Assignment Jake Cousins (flexor strain, pec) is scheduled to start a rehab assignment on Tuesday, Boone said.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 1 June 2025
Verb
Cooking, cleaning, and meal prepping can simply strain your lower body, thanks to all the standing.
—Toni Sutton, People.com, 3 June 2025
This includes among other activities, the entity’s instrumental work on multiple Ebola crises in Africa and worldwide measles outbreaks, as well as seasonal influenza strain sequencing used to develop annual flu shots.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for strain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strain
Verb
-
Brands began to pull together resources to support refugees.—
Stephan Rabimov,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
-
The 13-minute performance will likely call for a healthy dose of vibrant, colored lighting to pull it all together.—
Kelly Allen,
House Beautiful,
10 Feb. 2023
Verb
-
There is no sunscreen that filters 100% of the sun's rays, so SPF 30 is sufficient.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
30 May 2025
-
The number of No. 1 albums that Hybe’s record-shattering boy band BTS has landed on the U.S. Billboard 200 STRATEGY + SUCCESS Nearly all hiring managers now use AI, resulting in many applicants getting filtered out before a human even looks at their résumé.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
Verb
-
But city and county officials have struggled to find a location for a new shelter.—
Michael Cuglietta,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 June 2025
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Increasingly, experts warn more consumers are experiencing financial fragility, struggling to manage their money and their debt.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
Slowly drip mixture into cold oil to form the ‘caviar’.—
Claudia Alarcón,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
-
Rafael Nadal was a tennis warrior, to be sure: a competitive beast dripping with sweat and relentless in-the-moment ambition who could give the opposition a faraway gaze in a hurry.—
Christopher Clarey,
Air Mail,
24 May 2025
Verb
-
Travel costs are down Broadly, travel costs have declined, which may help travelers looking to stretch their budget.—
Ana Teresa Solá,
CNBC,
31 May 2025
-
Noise-reducing Earplugs Sometimes a European city break means sticking to a small budget and finding ways to stretch your budget to see as many cities or enjoy as many excursions as possible.—
Gregory Robinson,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
Entry to the holy cities has likewise been tightened.—
Juwayriah Wright,
Time,
4 June 2025
-
The Xtreme 4 just tightens that formula even more, now for $130 less.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
They obviously didn't get hugged enough as children –either of them.—
Steve Inskeep,
NPR,
6 June 2025
-
Hand 103, Bethel, 102 ½. There was bedlam, Hand kids screaming and jumping and yelling and hugging each other.—
Lori Riley,
Hartford Courant,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
No one was hurt but the Toyota 4Runner the men were inside and another vehicle were damaged.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
-
The fire began on the third floor, severely damaging the entire level, while water damage affected the floors below.—
Samantha Moilanen,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strain. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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