as in unnatural
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
I took the complaint manager's strained smile to mean I wasn't a welcome sight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pulled
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure
in order to lift something heavy, squat down and lift with your legs, or you'll strain your back
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in filtered
to pass through a filter
better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in labored
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 dripped
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 stretched
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 hugged
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of strained
Julia Frankel and Leo Correa, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Enter left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr., who had not pitched in five weeks because of a strained elbow flexor.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Rick Stroud, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
In 2021, the PSD and the PNL also formed an unlikely but increasingly strained coalition together with UDMR, which exited the Cabinet last year after a power-sharing dispute.
—Stephen McGrath and Vadim Ghirda, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for strained
Adjective
The conference illuminated the increasingly strained relationship between Israel and its traditional allies in the West, which have grown uneasy with Israeli politics and the direction of the country’s devastating war in Gaza.
—Julia Frankel and Leo Correa, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Enter left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr., who had not pitched in five weeks because of a strained elbow flexor.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Verb
Receiver Sterling Shepard strained a hamstring Sunday.
—Rick Stroud, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
In 2021, the PSD and the PNL also formed an unlikely but increasingly strained coalition together with UDMR, which exited the Cabinet last year after a power-sharing dispute.
—Stephen McGrath and Vadim Ghirda, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for strained
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strained
Adjective
-
In an alternative '90s, dark waters from the underground scientific facility have risen to flood the town and deliver a menagerie of natural and unnatural nightmares.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
11 Apr. 2025
-
In this type of thinking, the desire to be alone is seen as unnatural and unhealthy, something to be pitied or feared rather than valued or encouraged.—
Virginia Thomas,
The Conversation,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
My wanting was the leash that pulled me through my life.—
Max Ufberg,
hazlitt.net,
4 Jan. 2025
-
But David kept fighting and pulled fire away from landing Medevac helicopters, getting evacuated himself after the last helicopter landed.—
JOSH BOAK THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
arkansasonline.com,
4 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
That his songs are dripped in the melancholy, forever-heartbroken strums of the requinto guitar give Cornejo’s work a timeless quality.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
13 Mar. 2025
-
At Gropius Bau, black goo dripped from a handblown hourglass counting down specifically to the end of the exhibition.—
Emily McDermott,
ARTnews.com,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Camp Pendleton has tightened access to the sprawling Marine base in North County in the wake of the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans that killed 14 people.—
Gary Robbins,
The Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2025
-
But the Pole tightened when on the front foot in two baseline exchanges, moving forward at the wrong time and letting Fritz move out in front.—
James Hansen,
The Athletic,
5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Without further ado, here is the sixth iteration of mock drafts, with this being the mock draft just before the final one, which will be put out on the day of the draft.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Here’s our latest projections, in the Star-Telegram’s mock draft 2.0: FIRST ROUND 1.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
When Barbra Streisand struggled with the replacement orchestrations during a recording session, the conductor had Cullen’s original scores on hand.—
Darryn King,
Forbes,
27 Dec. 2024
-
The Bears offense struggled under coordinator Shane Waldron, so he was fired.—
Kevin Fishbain,
The Athletic,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Some people may have tried to heed that call, in a way.—
Michael Wilson,
New York Times,
24 Dec. 2024
-
In the past, Medina said, the two tried their hand at creating a viral moment with a fake Instagram video of Jones getting a suggestive face tattoo.—
Amanda Rosa,
Orlando Sentinel,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Women clasped hands in ring dances.—
John Leland,
New York Times,
22 Dec. 2024
-
Others clasped their hands in prayer.—
Abby Sewell,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strained. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share