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
Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 12 Sep. 2025
Auto lending is another pocket showing strain, with subrime lender Tricolor Holdings the latest in the sector to file for bankruptcy.
—John Melloy, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
During the Fever’s May 24 game against the New York Liberty, Clark strained her left quadriceps.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strain
Noun
The legal battle caused strain between the former best friends.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 12 Sep. 2025
Auto lending is another pocket showing strain, with subrime lender Tricolor Holdings the latest in the sector to file for bankruptcy.
—John Melloy, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
Kennedy, 71, has spasmodic dysphonia, a rare neurological condition in which the muscles that open and close his vocal cords spasm involuntarily, creating a strained or strangled quality to his speech.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
During the Fever’s May 24 game against the New York Liberty, Clark strained her left quadriceps.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strain
Verb
-
The group routinely calls for removing books at public schools and played a role in Scottsdale Unified School District's decision to pull 16 books from its library shelves in February.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The air fryer itself is easy to clean by pulling the trays out and wiping the inside with a wet cloth.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The water was then filtered and analysed using advanced laboratory techniques, with strict controls in place to prevent contamination.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Other samples were frozen, filtered or left as is, depending on the purpose.—
Rodrique Ngowi,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Traditional data lakes can store raw data at scale but lack quality controls, while warehouses enforce structure but struggle with unstructured or fast changing data.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Almost half of those who abided by boundaries (45%) reported low burnout, compared to 6% of those who struggled to do so.—
Samantha Dewalt,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
His friendships with musicians gave him direct access to the aesthetic of rock stars, from ripped denim to leather jackets dripping with attitude.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Blood drips all over her white blazer.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The line often stretches out the door, a testament to the café’s reputation as one of Nashville’s most beloved no-frills eateries.—
Rai Mincey,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Shark nets were installed across 51 beaches in NSW, for the season starting September 1, across 51 beaches stretching around 140 miles from Newcastle to Wollongong, 9News reports.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As budgets tighten, vibe coding becomes not just a productivity enhancer but a strategic enabler.—
Paul Kovalenko,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The announcement also included a safety reminder that urged companies to tighten cybersecurity practices when handling Chinese citizens’ personal data.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles held an emotional meeting with staff on Wednesday after the assassination, telling members to go home and hug their families, the Wall Street Journal reported.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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In typical athlete origin story fashion, the first half of the Christy trailer depicts the unpolished, brunette Sweeney as real-life champion Christy Salters Martin slugging it out in practice, training on a beach, and hugging her supportive team.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Washing a couch or sofa, professional carpet and upholstery cleaner Ben Brazell says, is more precarious than carpet cleaning because the upholstery is often a lot more expensive and much easier to damage.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
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Private homes, farm buildings and power lines were damaged, Gusev said.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strain. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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