1
as in pulling
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure
in order to lift something heavy, squat down and lift with your legs, or you'll strain your back
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in filtering
to pass through a filter
better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in struggling
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 dripping
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 stretching
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
as in tightening
to draw tight
the dog strained its leash trying to get to the cat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in hugging
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 straining
Metellus was the choice of members of the presidential council to replace Fils-Aimé as prime minister, straining relations between the two men.
—
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
The fall of el-Fasher in October 2025 to the Rapid Support Forces set off an exodus of people to nearby towns, straining the resources of neighboring communities and driving up food insecurity rates, the report said.
—Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
Tensions are straining between the United States and South Korea despite both nations having agreed to a comprehensive trade deal last fall.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 2026
This chronic underfunding is eroding the dignity of aging and straining the health care system.
—Andrew Hevesi, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
The mass detention policy has been challenged in federal courts across the country, straining the resources of government lawyers.
—February 6, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Labneh Labneh is a Middle Eastern dairy product made by straining yogurt to remove its whey.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 6 Feb. 2026
The fall of el-Fasher in October 2025 to the RSF set off an exodus of people to nearby towns, straining the resources of neighboring communities and driving up food insecurity rates, the report said.
—Noha Elhennawy, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
While snow and ice can be disruptive on their own, a prolonged exposure to cold can amplify the risk, increasing the odds of hypothermia and frostbite, straining shelters and hospitals and turning routine repairs into high-stakes operations.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
The fall of el-Fasher in October 2025 to the Rapid Support Forces set off an exodus of people to nearby towns, straining the resources of neighboring communities and driving up food insecurity rates, the report said.
—Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
Tensions are straining between the United States and South Korea despite both nations having agreed to a comprehensive trade deal last fall.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 2026
This chronic underfunding is eroding the dignity of aging and straining the health care system.
—Andrew Hevesi, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
The mass detention policy has been challenged in federal courts across the country, straining the resources of government lawyers.
—February 6, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Labneh Labneh is a Middle Eastern dairy product made by straining yogurt to remove its whey.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 6 Feb. 2026
The fall of el-Fasher in October 2025 to the RSF set off an exodus of people to nearby towns, straining the resources of neighboring communities and driving up food insecurity rates, the report said.
—Noha Elhennawy, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
While snow and ice can be disruptive on their own, a prolonged exposure to cold can amplify the risk, increasing the odds of hypothermia and frostbite, straining shelters and hospitals and turning routine repairs into high-stakes operations.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straining
Verb
-
After that setback, the Seahawks lost their edge to stay ahead of a league designed to keep pulling teams toward the middle.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Yet the final also required Vonn to push her knee further than in either of her two training runs, when she could be seen pulling back around some turns so as not to exert too much strain before the main event.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Supports Liver Health Coffee can help protect the liver, the body’s filtering organ.—
Cory Martin,
Verywell Health,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Forced to turn his pledge into a lie, his dramatic solution was to impose filtering equally on everyone.—
Azadeh Moaveni,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Bear, struggling with drug addiction, had no one urging her to fight the state’s case.—
Raynee Howell,
Oklahoma Watch,
9 Feb. 2026
-
He’s trapped in rolling crises of his own making and is struggling to sell voters on the idea of a strong American economy.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Medel wedged himself through the strands and handed empty fertilizer bags dripping blue liquid out to Gabriel.—
Rachel Becker,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Cue a thunderclap and a statue of Jesus dripping a tear of blood.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Scores of providers sprang up along a corridor stretching west from the San Gabriel Valley through the San Fernando Valley, which now has the highest concentration of hospices in the nation.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Republicans argue the region’s frustrations reflect years of structural failures under Cooper’s disaster management system, stretching back to earlier storms.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That means tightening timelines for support, providing consistent funding and contracting, and ensuring a more responsive partner in government.—
Kimberly Olsen,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
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Google is tightening limits on free YouTube Music accounts, this time by restricting access to song lyrics.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The new Fast & Furious coaster that has been revving its engines during test runs around the hillside-hugging track will soon get the green flag to officially start racing with thrill seekers on board at Universal Studios Hollywood.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
5 Feb. 2026
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Available in 19 versatile washes, these hip-hugging jeans gradually flare out to a bootcut leg.—
Cheryl Wagemann,
InStyle,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The son of a medical-gas plumber who worked night shifts, Darnold just kept laboring at his craft.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
-
In the summer of 2024, UNICEF’s representative in Congo suggested that 361,000 children might be laboring in mines in southern Congo, though this number seems implausibly high and drew quick opprobrium from Congolese NGOs that work on the issue.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Straining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straining. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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