1
as in lineages
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
as in melodies
a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect
the strain of an old Irish ballad rose up from the revelers downstairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in splashes
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 types
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 stresses
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
as in pulls
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
2
as in filters
to pass through a filter
better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in struggles
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 drips
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 stretches
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 hugs
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 strains
Michael Swartzon,
Miami Herald,
3 July 2026
The two antibodies also recognize regions of the proteins that rarely change across circulating strains of both Nipah and Hendra viruses.
—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
But there are multiple Ebola strains, and those vaccines, treatments, and tests aren’t effective against the rarer strain, Bundibugyo, sickening people today.
—
Alice Park,
Time,
2 July 2026
Routine childhood vaccination has dramatically reduced disease rates, and newer vaccines have been developed to protect against emerging bacterial strains.
—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2026
Virus strains may also mutate to spread less efficiently or become less deadly, meaning this outbreak may ultimately pose little threat to human health.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
1 July 2026
Different probiotics may have different effects on health based on their strains.
—
Verywell Health,
1 July 2026
Throughout the weekend, someone wandering around Mass MoCA’s campus might have caught excellent mainstage opening acts like Gang of Four (featuring Ted Leo on guitar) or the Breeders, representing two strains of Eighties and Nineties alt/punk rock.
—
Simon Vozick-Levinson,
Rolling Stone,
29 June 2026
All the stresses and strains get to you and you’re just done.
—
Nasser Hussain,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Bridget Shirvell,
Martha Stewart,
28 June 2026
Inconsistent supply, slow responses, a distributor who cannot get a straight answer from the brand—all of that strains the relationship in ways that eventually cost shelf space.
—
Joel Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
Since its revival in the early 2000s, Kentucky distillery Four Roses has been known for making excellent bourbon using 10 different recipes, the result of having two mashbills and five yeast strains at its disposal.
—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
23 June 2026
Albert’s prose sometimes strains for lyricism, but the mysteries embedded in the novel—creative, familial, and supernatural—exert a powerful draw.
—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Moderna officials noted that flu strains for each fall’s vaccines now are chosen several months earlier than the yearly recipe update for COVID-19 shots that mostly are mRNA-based — and there can be a mismatch if the flu virus mutates after the recipe is made.
—
Lauran Neergaard,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Cape Fear strains credulity a little by making Natalie too easy a mark.
—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
Manufacturers must decide months in advance which strains to target, giving the virus time to evolve.
—
Berkeley Lovelace Jr,
NBC news,
18 June 2026
Moderna officials said flu strains for the fall vaccines now are chosen in February — several months sooner than the yearly recipe update for COVID-19 shots that mostly are mRNA-based — and there can be a mismatch if the flu virus mutates after the recipe is made.
—
Matthew Perrone,
Chicago Tribune,
18 June 2026
Noun
Moderate or worse strains may take a few months to get back to the pitch.
—
Michael Swartzon,
Miami Herald,
3 July 2026
The two antibodies also recognize regions of the proteins that rarely change across circulating strains of both Nipah and Hendra viruses.
—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
But there are multiple Ebola strains, and those vaccines, treatments, and tests aren’t effective against the rarer strain, Bundibugyo, sickening people today.
—
Alice Park,
Time,
2 July 2026
Routine childhood vaccination has dramatically reduced disease rates, and newer vaccines have been developed to protect against emerging bacterial strains.
—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2026
Virus strains may also mutate to spread less efficiently or become less deadly, meaning this outbreak may ultimately pose little threat to human health.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
1 July 2026
Different probiotics may have different effects on health based on their strains.
—
Verywell Health,
1 July 2026
Throughout the weekend, someone wandering around Mass MoCA’s campus might have caught excellent mainstage opening acts like Gang of Four (featuring Ted Leo on guitar) or the Breeders, representing two strains of Eighties and Nineties alt/punk rock.
—
Simon Vozick-Levinson,
Rolling Stone,
29 June 2026
All the stresses and strains get to you and you’re just done.
—
Nasser Hussain,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Verb
Oat milk retains some of that beta-glucan, but the filtration process strains out a significant portion of heart-healthy soluble beta-glucan fiber.
—
Bridget Shirvell,
Martha Stewart,
28 June 2026
Inconsistent supply, slow responses, a distributor who cannot get a straight answer from the brand—all of that strains the relationship in ways that eventually cost shelf space.
—
Joel Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
Since its revival in the early 2000s, Kentucky distillery Four Roses has been known for making excellent bourbon using 10 different recipes, the result of having two mashbills and five yeast strains at its disposal.
—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
23 June 2026
Albert’s prose sometimes strains for lyricism, but the mysteries embedded in the novel—creative, familial, and supernatural—exert a powerful draw.
—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Moderna officials noted that flu strains for each fall’s vaccines now are chosen several months earlier than the yearly recipe update for COVID-19 shots that mostly are mRNA-based — and there can be a mismatch if the flu virus mutates after the recipe is made.
—
Lauran Neergaard,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Cape Fear strains credulity a little by making Natalie too easy a mark.
—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
Manufacturers must decide months in advance which strains to target, giving the virus time to evolve.
—
Berkeley Lovelace Jr,
NBC news,
18 June 2026
Moderna officials said flu strains for the fall vaccines now are chosen in February — several months sooner than the yearly recipe update for COVID-19 shots that mostly are mRNA-based — and there can be a mismatch if the flu virus mutates after the recipe is made.
—
Matthew Perrone,
Chicago Tribune,
18 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strains
Noun
-
Because everyone will have access to the same information, AI will accentuate the value of personal connections, again promoting lineages and networks that at their most extreme may appear to be sinister establishment conspiracies.
-
Here, however, entire evolutionary lineages may be emerging across archipelagos separated by distances that seem relatively minor on a map.
Noun
-
His mother, Mohinder Kaur Bhamra, sang Punjabi folk melodies over them, and the first British Asian dance album, Punjabi Disco, was born.
-
From the streets to the sheets, West Coast prodigy Blxst has turned his pain and passion into profit by masterfully blending melodies with bars.
Noun
-
Many of the paintings include a portrait of a Pullman porter or a maid surrounded by splashes of color and fragments of archival documents — newspaper clippings, timesheets, employee records.
-
It’s even made from a water-resistant fabric to protect your gear from unexpected splashes or spills, keeping everything safe on the go.
Noun
-
These types of floor are easy to clean, handle moisture well, and don’t show every footprint.
-
While terracotta pots and baskets lined with coconut coir have their uses, these types of containers dry out much faster and will need careful management to ensure plants don't wither away.
Noun
-
Comedy breaks away her stresses and allows viewers to be vulnerable with her.
-
The system has shown remarkable resilience even under these stresses thanks to the diversity of supply sources and the growing share of term contracts.
Verb
-
Dembele’s pace stretches defenses, Olise has developed into one of Europe’s most creative playmakers and Barcola's intelligent movement constantly pulls defenders out of position.
-
As Otto groans, Rhaenrya pulls back and cleaves off Otto's head.
Verb
-
The lymphatic system collects that fluid from your tissues, filters it and returns it to your bloodstream.
-
The team filters in slowly, following a late game the night before.
Verb
-
During contests, their stomachs stretch, heart rates rise, and digestion struggles to keep up, causing intense physical stress.
-
Her 12-year-old son, Whitman, has autism and a neurological disorder called apraxia, in which the brain struggles to tell muscles how to move to form words or perform other motor skills.
Cite this Entry
“Strains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strains. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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