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
Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
The monitor also integrates Acer VisionCare,, which helps reduce eye strain after prolonged use for a more comfortable experience.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026
Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Experts have also warned that the cost of bottled water will soon increase, as the oil crisis strains the plastics industry.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strain
Noun
Olathe Schools shifted $44 million from its general fund to cover special education costs last year — a strain the superintendent says now forces staff reductions, leading to larger class sizes and fewer supports for every student, not just those with special needs.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
The monitor also integrates Acer VisionCare,, which helps reduce eye strain after prolonged use for a more comfortable experience.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
Noem’s warehouse plan sparked fierce community opposition over fears of ICE facilities straining local infrastructure and the moral implications of detention centers.
—Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Experts have also warned that the cost of bottled water will soon increase, as the oil crisis strains the plastics industry.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strain
Verb
-
On their first night in Guangzhou, while Joost was in the private shower attached to their room, Martha pulled her money pouch from the recesses of her pack and counted her traveller’s checks.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
For the Canucks, Nikita Tolopilo was beaten four times on 11 shots before getting pulled early in the second.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In 1995, Citizen officially called their proprietary tech the Eco-Drive and released its Eco-Drive Calibre 7878 that had the solar cell mounted underneath the dial using a non-transparent surface that allows non-visible light to filter through.—
David Szondy
March 28,
New Atlas,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The system then evaluates and refines those ideas, filtering out any that are not novel.—
Jacek Krywko,
Scientific American,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps those June friendlies in Florida will give him one more chance to experiment, but the simple reality is that any Kane-less plan will struggle to get off the ground.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The waiver was established by the TEA to provide additional flexibility to go out of state to find qualified leaders to right the ships of struggling districts.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And no one actually wanted scalding oil dripped onto them from above at a NYE party.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Many people have built their routines around the restaurant, around its Traditional Southern Breakfast and drip coffee and sugary cinnamon rolls, Park said.—
Olivia Wakim,
AJC.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trolley lines move across the city, stretching as far West as the Darby Transit Center and back East toward 13th street.—
Kaitlyn McCormick,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In the courtyard, the hotel’s signature Mariposa (Spanish for butterfly) sculpture stretches overhead like a modern butterfly wing.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
China and Russia grow closer in Arctic efforts The lack of funding comes at a time when the Chinese and Russian Coast Guards are tightening their relationship.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Yet certain types of speech can still trigger criminal charges, and Morocco has seen tightening restrictions on dissent, including against journalists and activists.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The couple hugged, burying their faces in each other’s shoulders.—
Justin Jouvenal,
Washington Post,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Bay Harbor consists of two islands hugging the Broad Causeway, which stretches just west of Bal Harbour to North Miami.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In a social media post on Monday morning, Kuwait said a service building at a power generation and water desalination plant were damaged in an attack Sunday evening, killing one worker.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
-
At least 12 residents have been displaced after a three-alarm fire heavily damaged five homes in Pittsburgh's Bloomfield neighborhood, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety.—
Garrett Behanna,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strain. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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