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Synonyms

strained

American  
[streynd] / streɪnd /

adjective

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

    strained hospitality.
strained British  
/ streɪnd /

adjective

  1. (of an action, performance, etc) not natural or spontaneous

  2. (of an atmosphere, relationship, etc) not relaxed; tense

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • strainedly adverb
  • strainedness noun
  • well-strained adjective

Etymology

Origin of strained

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The move marks the latest push by oil-and-gas veterans to capitalize on a building boom that has strained power markets and driven the U.S. construction sector in recent years.

From The Wall Street Journal

He paused every few strides, clinging to brambles and roots, struggling against the pull of Pain as he strained to listen for her reply.

From Literature

The heightened defence posture at RAF Akrotiri will inevitably stretch the UK's already strained armed forces.

From BBC

And don’t get me started on my strained hand with carpal tunnel syndrome from all the clicking.

From The Wall Street Journal

Speaking in a strained whisper, the effect of a rare illness of the vocal cords, Page suggested that Hassabis’s company-building endeavors might be similarly pointless.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.