strained

[ streynd ]

adjective

1. affected or produced by effort; not natural or spontaneous; forced:

   strained hospitality.

strained

/ streɪnd /

adjective

1. (of an action, performance, etc) not natural or spontaneous
2. (of an atmosphere, relationship, etc) not relaxed; tense

Other Words From

• strained·ly [streynd, -lee, strey, -nid-], adverb
• strainedness noun
• well-strained adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of strained¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; strain ¹, -ed ²

Example Sentences

He and Brynn, who battled substance abuse, had a tumultuous, combative relationship that was growing only more strained.

From New York Times

One dives deep into the strained but anatomically accurate neck muscles and sharply delineated collar bones of St. Jerome, shown praying in the bleak wilderness.

From Los Angeles Times

Some national teams will be arriving from countries that have strained relations with the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

In describing his unusually positive experiences during the pandemic, when he married and became a father, Yoakam’s voice became strained by emotion.

From Los Angeles Times

Tax credits to help people buy homes could overwhelm an already strained housing market.

From Salon

Related Words

• constrained
• labored
• stiff
• tense
• tight
• uneasy