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
Gretchen Butwid, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
Flexor and lat strains limited him to just eight starts in 2025, and there was also an index finger strain in 2024.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
While Indonesia is often described as one of Australia's most important neighbors, the relationship has seen periodic strains.
—Niniek Karmini, Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
Brasier, 38, was limited to just 26 innings last year by a pair of left groin strains while with the Chicago Cubs.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
The gummies are designed to maintain 95% survivability of the strains and don’t require refrigeration.
—Pubsubhub User, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Evan Mobley has dealt with two calf strains.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Now, that practice appears to be one of the primary strains on the jail.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
Using key indicators for medicinal value and rubber yield, scientists screened more than 50 elite Duzhong germplasms from across China and ran a systematic breeding programme, ultimately producing strains adapted to arid, desert conditions.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Jim Rutledge was master distiller at the time, and the blended whiskey was discontinued to focus on straight bourbon made from the distillery’s 10 different recipes (two mashbills, five yeast strains).
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 9 Feb. 2026
Research has long shown that a constantly percolating stress response strains practically every body part, particularly your heart, which pumps harder and faster to ready you for action.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 5 Feb. 2026
In his teens and early 20s, a variety of knocks and muscle strains — plus a variety of coaches with fluctuating opinions of him — complicated his development.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The film stars Imogen Poots as a young Yuknavitch, who strains to escape an abusive upbringing through competitive swimming in college, all the while battling addiction and discovering a knack for writing.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026
Rocky strains to convey his evolution from scrapping on the streets of Harlem to luxuriating in wealthy, starstruck domestic bliss.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 19 Jan. 2026
The tariff ultimatum marks a drastic escalation that strains NATO, the security alliance binding Europe and North America since 1949.
—Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
The war in Ukraine exposes these trans-Atlantic strains most acutely.
—Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
After a short hospital stay, Guillen recovered physically, but the remaining emotional and financial strains have forced Blue Oak RV Park — and likely its adjoining restaurant — to close permanently.
—Gretchen Butwid, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
Flexor and lat strains limited him to just eight starts in 2025, and there was also an index finger strain in 2024.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
While Indonesia is often described as one of Australia's most important neighbors, the relationship has seen periodic strains.
—Niniek Karmini, Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
Brasier, 38, was limited to just 26 innings last year by a pair of left groin strains while with the Chicago Cubs.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
The gummies are designed to maintain 95% survivability of the strains and don’t require refrigeration.
—Pubsubhub User, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Evan Mobley has dealt with two calf strains.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Now, that practice appears to be one of the primary strains on the jail.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
Using key indicators for medicinal value and rubber yield, scientists screened more than 50 elite Duzhong germplasms from across China and ran a systematic breeding programme, ultimately producing strains adapted to arid, desert conditions.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
This affordable probiotic has one of the most common types of beneficial bacteria strains to help balance the gut.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Jim Rutledge was master distiller at the time, and the blended whiskey was discontinued to focus on straight bourbon made from the distillery’s 10 different recipes (two mashbills, five yeast strains).
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 9 Feb. 2026
Research has long shown that a constantly percolating stress response strains practically every body part, particularly your heart, which pumps harder and faster to ready you for action.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 5 Feb. 2026
In his teens and early 20s, a variety of knocks and muscle strains — plus a variety of coaches with fluctuating opinions of him — complicated his development.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The film stars Imogen Poots as a young Yuknavitch, who strains to escape an abusive upbringing through competitive swimming in college, all the while battling addiction and discovering a knack for writing.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026
Rocky strains to convey his evolution from scrapping on the streets of Harlem to luxuriating in wealthy, starstruck domestic bliss.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 19 Jan. 2026
The tariff ultimatum marks a drastic escalation that strains NATO, the security alliance binding Europe and North America since 1949.
—Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
The war in Ukraine exposes these trans-Atlantic strains most acutely.
—Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strains
Verb
-
Carolyn pulls him in for a kiss.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The backward shift showed less recovery, likely because gravity pulls downward rather than forward, so some effects of spaceflight on brain position may last longer than others.—
Rachael Seidler,
The Conversation,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The chip first filters out irrelevant visual data and identifies only key changes in a scene.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Instagram filters that promote plastic surgery, such as adding the appearance of facial scars in common procedure areas, were banned, Mosseri said.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The film tells the story 21-year-old Junyang, who drifts through life while his father quietly struggles to hold their modest home together.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The middle-aged woman cured of breast cancer who now struggles to climb stairs because endocrine therapy has carved away her bone density and caused joint aches.—
Gilberto Lopes,
STAT,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In this method, hot water flows over ground coffee held in a paper or reusable filter, which then drips into a carafe or mug below.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The melter sits over a sewer line, idling while heating the snow to thirty-eight degrees, barely above freezing, and drips the water directly into a drain.—
Naaman Zhou,
New Yorker,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Hyde Park Herald reported the shooting took place in Nichols Park, which stretches from 53rd Street to 55th Street between Kimbark and Kenwood avenues.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Onana stretches both hands in front of him, waiting for the Villa supporters to build the anticipation.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But once utilities begin raising lake levels ahead of summer recreation, Jones said, the margin tightens.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Feb. 2026
-
But as the degree programs have grown in popularity, disagreements continue to emerge between California State University and California Community Colleges as competition for students tightens.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The design hugs the ankle before relaxing into a gentle slouch through the leg.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Footwear News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Eagle-eyed fans recognized the image—in which Harry hugs his late mom—from his 2023 memoir, Spare.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The meatpacking giant also charges workers when someone takes or damages their personal protective equipment and insists on a three-year agreement, the union said.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
-
To explore that possibility, researchers at University College London and Queen Square Analytics set out to look beyond symptoms and clinical labels and focus instead on the biological signals of how MS damages the brain.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strains. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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