1
: done or produced with excessive effort
2
: pushed by antagonism near to open conflict
strained relations
Examples of strained in a Sentence
He made a strained attempt at being polite.
I took the complaint manager's strained smile to mean I wasn't a welcome sight.
Recent Examples on the Web
There has been a gradual normalization of ties between India and China in recent months after relations were deeply strained in June 2020, when a brutal hand-to-hand battle in the Galwan Valley left at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead.
—
Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
The Taliban’s strained relationships with Iran and Pakistan further complicate reintegration efforts.
—Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
Indian filmmakers and distributors have long had a strained relationship with India’s censor authority, the Central Board of Film Certification.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 16 July 2025
This was the first joint US-Russian human spaceflight mission, laying the foundation for a strained but enduring partnership on the International Space Station.
—ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for strained
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Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
The Taliban’s strained relationships with Iran and Pakistan further complicate reintegration efforts.
—Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
Indian filmmakers and distributors have long had a strained relationship with India’s censor authority, the Central Board of Film Certification.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 16 July 2025
This was the first joint US-Russian human spaceflight mission, laying the foundation for a strained but enduring partnership on the International Space Station.
—ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for strained
Cite this Entry
“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strained. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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