1
: done or produced with excessive effort
2
: pushed by antagonism near to open conflict
strained relations
Synonyms
Examples of strained in a Sentence
He made a strained attempt at being polite.
I took the complaint manager's strained smile to mean I wasn't a welcome sight.
Recent Examples on the Web
But there were struggles along the way, especially after missing some time with a strained groin in late January.
—
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2024
Carson has missed 11 games the last three seasons, and wasn’t able to participate in the Senior Bowl and combine because of a strained left foot.
94.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for strained 
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2024
Carson has missed 11 games the last three seasons, and wasn’t able to participate in the Senior Bowl and combine because of a strained left foot.
94.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for strained
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'strained.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strained. Accessed 6 May. 2024.
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