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
Strikes on refineries are designed to choke off the Kremlin’s war revenues while exerting pressure on Russia’s already strained economy.
—
David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
One of the main challenges facing the economy is the strained relationship between Beijing and Washington as disputes over technology and geopolitics mount.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2025
The column ignores real costs like housing shortages, strained services, and economic impacts on working Americans.
—Letters To The Editor, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
Lerner believes that without smarter management, enterprises will face spiraling bills and strained infrastructure.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strained
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David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
One of the main challenges facing the economy is the strained relationship between Beijing and Washington as disputes over technology and geopolitics mount.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2025
The column ignores real costs like housing shortages, strained services, and economic impacts on working Americans.
—Letters To The Editor, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
Lerner believes that without smarter management, enterprises will face spiraling bills and strained infrastructure.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 13 Sep. 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 23 Sep. 2025.
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