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
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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
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3
as in labored
to devote serious and sustained effort
the whole department is straining to complete the project before the deadline
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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
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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
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of strained
Dr. Sunita Sah, TIME, 4 Jan. 2025
Turkey, for its part, understands that if U.S. forces stay in Syria, Ankara’s relationship with Washington will remain strained and de facto Syrian Kurdish autonomy will continue to frustrate Turkish security goals.
—Steven Simon, Foreign Affairs, 3 Jan. 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
While defiance is often associated with risk—social exclusion, professional backlash, or strained relationships—the costs of compliance are equally profound.
—Dr. Sunita Sah, TIME, 4 Jan. 2025
Turkey, for its part, understands that if U.S. forces stay in Syria, Ankara’s relationship with Washington will remain strained and de facto Syrian Kurdish autonomy will continue to frustrate Turkish security goals.
—Steven Simon, Foreign Affairs, 3 Jan. 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
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Labeling something so personal feels almost unnatural.Ron Hart, SPIN, 10 Jan. 2025
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While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind.Erin Parker, Allure, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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My wanting was the leash that pulled me through my life.Max Ufberg, hazlitt.net, 4 Jan. 2025
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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
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These are topical antibiotics that are dripped into the ear canal.Sherri Gordon, Health, 30 Dec. 2024
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Akin to her music, the costumes, backdrops, images, props and 20-person dance squad dripped with vibrant color and outrageous swagger.Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
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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
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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
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Most current mock drafts have Shedeur landing somewhere in the top three picks, which makes sense considering there are a ton of quarterback-needy teams.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025
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But the upper stage will do something new on Flight 7, deploying 10 mock satellites — inactive versions of SpaceX's Starlink broadband craft — which will follow Ship's suborbital trajectory and splash down in the Indian Ocean as well.Mike Wall, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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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
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The Bears offense struggled under coordinator Shane Waldron, so he was fired.Kevin Fishbain, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Some people may have tried to heed that call, in a way.Michael Wilson, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
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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
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Women clasped hands in ring dances.John Leland, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2024
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Others clasped their hands in prayer.Abby Sewell, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near strained
Cite this Entry
“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strained. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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