Strained — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈstrānd/

Meaning & Definition of Strained

Strained (adjective)

  1. done or produced with excessive effort
  2. pushed by antagonism near to open conflict

Strained (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. lacking in natural or spontaneous quality

    "I took the complaint manager's strained smile to mean I wasn't a welcome sight"

    similar: affected, artificial, assumed, bogus, contrived, factitious, fake, false, feigned, forced, mechanical, mock, phony, plastic, pretended, pseudo, put-on, sham, simulated, spurious, unnatural
    related: automatic, canned, concocted, fabricated, hokey, labored, manufactured, pat, unauthentic, unreal, unrealistic, double-dealing, empty, facile, hollow, hypocritical, insincere, left-handed, mealy, mealymouthed, two-faced, unctuous, exaggerated, histrionic, melodramatic, overacted, overdone, theatrical, cute, cutesy, genteel, goody-goody, mincing, overrefined, simpering, conventional, formal, impersonal, inflexible, rigid, stiff, stylized, wooden, artful, calculated, conscious, cultivated, deliberate, premeditated, studied
    opposite: artless, genuine, natural, spontaneous, unaffected, uncontrived, unfeigned, unforced
    near: authentic, bona fide, real, realistic, right, true, honest, ingenuous, sincere, unpretending, easy, effortless, smooth, extemporaneous, impromptu, impulsive, instinctive, unconscious, unprompted, unrehearsed, unstudied

Strained (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: pulled, racked, stretched, wrenched
    related: frayed, taxed, weakened, damaged, harmed, hurt, impaired, wounded, battered, bruised, tore, crippled, lamed, mangled, mutilated

  2. to pass through a filter

    "better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out"

    similar: filtered, screened
    related: leached, percolated

  3. to devote serious and sustained effort

    "the whole department is straining to complete the project before the deadline"

    similar: banged away, beavered (away), drudged, dug (away), endeavored, fagged, grubbed, humped, hustled, labored, moiled, pegged (away), plodded, plowed, plugged, slaved, slogged, strove, struggled, sweat, toiled, travailed, tugged, worked, sweat blood
    related: applied (oneself), buckled (down), dug in, hammered (away), knuckled down, pitched in, attacked, drove, essayed, tried, exercised, exerted, overexerted, overworked, eked out, ground (out), put out, scrabbled, scratched, trudged, waded
    near: broke, eased (up), let up, slackened, bummed, chilled, dallied, dillydallied, footled, goldbricked, goofed (off), hacked (around), hung (around or out), idled, lazed, loafed, lounged, shirked, slacked (off), vegged out, basked, lolled, relaxed, reposed, rested, unwound, dabbled, doodled, fooled around, fribbled, goofed (around), hung, hung about (British), messed around, monkeyed (around), played, pottered (around), puttered (around), trifled

  4. to flow forth slowly through small openings

    "put the cooked fruit in a cheesecloth bag and let the juice strain into a pan"

    similar: bled, exuded, oozed, percolated, seeped, sweat, transuded, wept
    related: dribbled, dripped, trickled, discharged, emitted, gave off, vented, emanated, flowed, sprang
    near: flooded, gushed, poured, streamed, surged

  5. to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress

    "strained her memory but the name just wouldn't come to her"

    similar: stretched, taxed, tested, tried
    related: demanded, exacted, importuned, pressed, pressured, pushed, aggravated, agitated, annoyed, bothered, exasperated, galled, gnawed (at), got (to), grated, harassed, harried, hassled, irked, irritated, nettled, pained, peeved, pestered, riled, spited, vexed

  6. to draw tight

    "the dog strained its leash trying to get to the cat"

    similar: stretched, tautened, tensed, tightened
    related: elongated, extended, lengthened, cinched, constricted
    opposite: loosened, slacked, slackened
    near: eased, relaxed

  7. 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"

    similar: bear-hugged, clasped, crushed, embraced, enclasped, enfolded, grasped, hugged
    related: clamped, clung, cradled, grabbed, gripped, held, bosomed, embosomed, encircled, entwined, enveloped, enwound, folded, locked, twined, wrapped, cuddled, fondled, nestled, nuzzled, patted, petted, snuggled, stroked

Related Entry: Strain (verb)

Strain is a different word from Strained. The synonyms below are for strain, not for strained.

  1. 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"

    similar: pull, rack, stretch, wrench
    related: fray, tax, weaken, damage, harm, hurt, impair, wound, batter, bruise, tear, cripple, lame, mangle, mutilate

  2. to pass through a filter

    "better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out"

    similar: filter, screen
    related: leach, percolate

  3. to devote serious and sustained effort

    "the whole department is straining to complete the project before the deadline"

    similar: bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), drudge, endeavor, fag, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, tug, work, sweat blood
    related: apply (oneself), buckle (down), dig in, hammer (away), knuckle down, pitch in, attack, drive, essay, try, exercise, exert, overexert, overwork, eke out, grind (out), put out, scrabble, scratch, trudge, wade
    near: break, ease (up), let up, slacken, bum, chill, dally, dillydally, footle, goldbrick, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, lounge, shirk, slack (off), veg out, bask, loll, relax, repose, rest, unwind, dabble, doodle, fool around, fribble, goof (around), hang, hang about (British), mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

  4. to flow forth slowly through small openings

    "put the cooked fruit in a cheesecloth bag and let the juice strain into a pan"

    similar: bleed, exude, ooze, percolate, seep, sweat, transude, weep
    related: dribble, drip, trickle, discharge, emit, give off, vent, emanate, flow, spring
    near: flood, gush, pour, stream, surge

  5. to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress

    "strained her memory but the name just wouldn't come to her"

    similar: stretch, tax, test, try
    related: demand, exact, importune, press, pressure, push, aggravate, agitate, annoy, bother, exasperate, gall, get (to), gnaw (at), grate, harass, harry, hassle, irk, irritate, nettle, pain, peeve, pester, rile, spite, vex

  6. to draw tight

    "the dog strained its leash trying to get to the cat"

    similar: stretch, tauten, tense, tighten
    related: elongate, extend, lengthen, cinch, constrict
    opposite: loosen, slack, slacken
    near: ease, relax

  7. 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"

    similar: bear-hug, clasp, crush, embrace, enclasp, enfold, grasp, hug
    related: clamp, cling, cradle, grab, grip, hold, bosom, embosom, encircle, entwine, envelop, enwind, fold, lock, twine, wrap, cuddle, fondle, nestle, nuzzle, pat, pet, snuggle, stroke

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Strained

The most common words with a similar meaning to Strained:

affected, artificial, assumed, bogus, contrived, factitious, fake, false, feigned, forced, mechanical, mock, phony, plastic, pretended, pseudo, put-on, sham, simulated, spurious, unnatural, pulled, racked, stretched, wrenched, filtered, screened, banged away, beavered (away), drudged, dug (away), endeavored, fagged, grubbed, humped, hustled, labored, moiled, pegged (away), plodded

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Strained

Words with the opposite meaning of Strained:

artless, genuine, natural, spontaneous, unaffected, uncontrived, unfeigned, unforced, loosened, slacked, slackened

Related Words for Strained

automatic, canned, concocted, fabricated, hokey, manufactured, pat, unauthentic, unreal, unrealistic, double-dealing, empty, facile, hollow, hypocritical, insincere, left-handed, mealy, mealymouthed, two-faced, unctuous, exaggerated, histrionic, melodramatic, overacted, overdone, theatrical, cute, cutesy, genteel

Near Antonyms of Strained

authentic, bona fide, real, realistic, right, true, honest, ingenuous, sincere, unpretending, easy, effortless, smooth, extemporaneous, impromptu, impulsive, instinctive, unconscious, unprompted, unrehearsed, unstudied, broke, eased (up), let up, bummed, chilled, dallied, dillydallied, footled, goldbricked

Origin & Etymology of Strained

First known use: circa 1542

Frequently Asked Questions about Strained

What does "Strained" mean?

"Strained" means done or produced with excessive effort. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: done or produced with excessive effort. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Strained"?

Other words for "Strained" include affected, artificial, assumed, bogus, contrived, factitious, fake and false. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Strained" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Strained"?

There are 223 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Strained". Common alternatives include affected, artificial, assumed, bogus, contrived, factitious, fake, false, feigned and forced.

What is the opposite of "Strained"?

Antonyms of "Strained" include artless, genuine, natural, spontaneous, unaffected, uncontrived, unfeigned and unforced. Near antonyms include authentic, bona fide, real and realistic.

How do you use "Strained" in a sentence?

Examples of "Strained" in a sentence: "I took the complaint manager's strained smile to mean I wasn't a welcome sight"; "in order to lift something heavy, squat down and lift with your legs, or you'll strain your back"; "better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out".

Is "Strained" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Strained" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Strained"?

"Strained" is pronounced /ˈstrānd/.

What is the origin of the word "Strained"?

First known use: circa 1542.