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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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of strain
Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Aug. 2025
Economic barriers The strain on brewery finances from falling consumption may be exacerbated with rising retail rent prices and the lingering effects of COVID-19 slowing foot traffic in downtown and midtown Sacramento, according to Lee.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Paolo Confino, Fortune, 18 July 2025
Compliance tools, such as worker status monitoring and algorithmic audits, require ongoing investment, which can strain smaller platforms and ultimately lead larger players to adjust their charging methods for gig workers.
—Jack Thorogood, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for strain
Noun
She's missed 14 of the Fever's 27 games this season due to a handful of injuries including a left quadriceps sprain, a left goring strain, and a right groin strain (not all of which were caused by other players).
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Aug. 2025
Economic barriers The strain on brewery finances from falling consumption may be exacerbated with rising retail rent prices and the lingering effects of COVID-19 slowing foot traffic in downtown and midtown Sacramento, according to Lee.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Verb
Federal Reserve officials are having a hard time agreeing on what lies ahead for the U.S. economy in a time of unprecedented tariffs, a straining debt ceiling, and political upheaval.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 18 July 2025
Compliance tools, such as worker status monitoring and algorithmic audits, require ongoing investment, which can strain smaller platforms and ultimately lead larger players to adjust their charging methods for gig workers.
—Jack Thorogood, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for strain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strain
Verb
-
Brands began to pull together resources to support refugees.—
Stephan Rabimov,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
-
The 13-minute performance will likely call for a healthy dose of vibrant, colored lighting to pull it all together.—
Kelly Allen,
House Beautiful,
10 Feb. 2023
Verb
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Light Blue reminds us of the way morning light gently filters through the kitchen windows, while Pale Powder carries the ease of a Sunday afternoon—a whisper of color that doesn’t demand attention, but always leaves a lasting impression.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
29 July 2025
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Apple is upping its game filtering texts into Spam and Unknown categories, silencing notifications and preventing any interaction with texts — such as links or replies.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
Verb
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Crisler said Milton struggles with alcohol addiction and was sober working for four months at a Chipotle restaurant, but a relapse resulted in the April 25 break-in.—
Quinlan Bentley,
The Enquirer,
3 Aug. 2025
-
In 1995, Anderson released her autobiography My Life in Heels, which detailed her relationship with Reynolds and her struggles to keep her family together.—
Stephanie Wenger,
People.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
One of the richest colleges in the world, its solid stone walls and parapets drip with the grandeur of old wealth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 July 2025
-
In Kingston after the storm, the yard cools, the grass slippery underfoot, leaves dripping—the air heavy with fatigue.—
Kwame Dawes,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
Verb
-
But afterward, the musician’s fans transformed a typically morose event into a lively commemoration of life and music that stretched across Osbourne’s hometown.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
30 July 2025
-
Data unification delays can stretch 12 to 18 months post-close, stalling the very efficiencies the deal was meant to unlock.—
Dave Albano,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
Verb
-
However, more countries are looking to tighten restrictions on who can get a passport, making citizenship a more urgent goal.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 July 2025
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The race is bound to tighten somewhat after the September preliminary election, when the field will be winnowed to just Kraft and Wu.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Mothers crying out loud for their children, and fathers hugging their children close to their chests.—
Troy Onyango,
Time,
24 July 2025
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In this sweet, candid moment, Lopez hugs her babies while backstage on the Marry Me set.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
14 July 2025
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Anything that damages the trust between the vendor, Microsoft, and the user is as much a threat as the hackers themselves, in my never humble opinion.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strain. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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