1
: done or produced with excessive effort
a strained smile
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
The Daily Mail reported that while Beatrice has remained close to her mother, her relationship with Andrew has become strained.
—
Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Without that balance, the city risks overdevelopment, public safety concerns, declining property values and strained infrastructure.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2025
Asfura will succeed Honduran President Xiomara Castro, a left-leaning leader whose administration has faced strained relations with Washington.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 25 Dec. 2025
Election fallout and broader concerns The Public Service Commission has become a flashpoint in Georgia politics following the recent election, with critics arguing that the outgoing Republican majority rushed through a consequential decision while public trust in utility oversight remains strained.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strained
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Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Without that balance, the city risks overdevelopment, public safety concerns, declining property values and strained infrastructure.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2025
Asfura will succeed Honduran President Xiomara Castro, a left-leaning leader whose administration has faced strained relations with Washington.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 25 Dec. 2025
Election fallout and broader concerns The Public Service Commission has become a flashpoint in Georgia politics following the recent election, with critics arguing that the outgoing Republican majority rushed through a consequential decision while public trust in utility oversight remains strained.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 23 Dec. 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 2 Jan. 2026.
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