strain 1 of 3

1
2
as in melody
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

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3
4

strain

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in stress
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

strain

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to pull
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

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2
as in to filter
to pass through a filter better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out

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3
4
as in to drip
to flow forth slowly through small openings put the cooked fruit in a cheesecloth bag and let the juice strain into a pan

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5
6
as in to tighten
to draw tight the dog strained its leash trying to get to the cat

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7

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of strain
Noun
Still, the public health agencies are prepared to authorize a vaccine for bird flu if needed, Shah said, adding officials are consistently testing strains against the vaccine candidates. Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 11 Dec. 2024 Clausen adds that the strain worsened during the pandemic as voluntary tips declined, leading staff to implement a mandatory 10% tip on every order. Monica Eng, Axios, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
Trump’s relationship with Xi started out well during his first term, but grew strained over disputes about trade and the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Colleen Long and Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024 The influx of Syrian refugees into Turkey has strained its economy and created a significant political challenge for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for strain 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strain
Verb
  • Brands began to pull together resources to support refugees.
    Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
  • The 13-minute performance will likely call for a healthy dose of vibrant, colored lighting to pull it all together.
    Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 10 Feb. 2023
Verb
  • The whiskey is non-chill filtered and comes in with a 47 ABV.
    Erik Ofgang, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Larger particles are expected to be filtered out to some extent, perhaps snagged in our nose or coughed up.
    Will Stone, NPR, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Her services are rooted in an experiential understanding of the matter, having served as a high-flying attorney for over two decades and struggling with burnout herself.
    Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
  • The Terps lost eight games in 2024, struggling again in conference play under coach Mike Locksley.
    Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • By dissolving its cap, the mushroom ensures that its spores can drip down and spread to the greatest lengths possible.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Allow excess egg to drip off and transfer the chops to the plate with the panko mixture.
    Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The buttery yellow ramparts encircling the center of Avignon stretch 2.6 miles and are notched with arrow slits and gaps for dumping boiling water or cooking oil on attackers below.
    Catherine Porter, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Zoom in: The iron arch stretches across San Diego Avenue at Twiggs Street welcoming visitors to the state historic park that marks the birthplace of California.
    Kate Murphy, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The treatment features radio frequency for skin tightening and lifting, advanced muscle stimulation to volumize and tone, and ends with a manual lymphatic drainage to improve circulation.
    Angela Lei, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
  • But according to experts that spoke to CNBC, there is reason to believe Europe, which is Ukraine’s biggest donor, can make up the shortfall if the U.S. withdraws or tightens that funding.
    Lily Meckel, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • In the mother-son snap, Teigen can be seen holding and hugging Wren, who looks strikingly similar to Legend, 45.
    Emma Aerin Becker, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
  • The woman and her mother have it out, hug, and make up, so Frasier and his dad Martin try arguing like Jews.
    Esther Zuckerman, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Such interactions may cause prospects to question the appropriateness of your outreach, damaging trust and credibility.
    Samuel Darwin, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Two main water reservoirs were also reportedly damaged, Reuters reported.
    Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near strain

Cite this Entry

“Strain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strain. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

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