1
as in lineage
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
descended from a strain of Irish seafarers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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2
3
as in shred
a very small amount
detected a strain of panic in her voice when she asked if the substance was poisonous
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4
as in type
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common
writes mystery novels of a more sophisticated strain
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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
1
2
3
as in to struggle
to devote serious and sustained effort
the whole department is straining to complete the project before the deadline
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to stretch
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
strained her memory but the name just wouldn't come to her
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6
7
as in to hug
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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of strain
Elizabeth Barnes, Verywell Health, 5 Nov. 2024
In the broader antitrust landscape, one wildcard is a populist strain in the GOP, including Trump’s VP pick J.D. Vance, who, surprisingly, likes Khan, calling her one of the current administration’s only decent picks.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
Michelle Pugle, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2024
Major upgrades are needed, but so are the actual modes of transportation available, as transportation accounts for over a quarter of global carbon dioxide emissions, which raise global temperatures that contribute to the extreme weather events straining the system.
—Li Cohen, CBS News, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for strain 
Noun
Probiotic strains: The specific strains included in the product should be listed by genus, species, and sometimes subspecies.
—Elizabeth Barnes, Verywell Health, 5 Nov. 2024
In the broader antitrust landscape, one wildcard is a populist strain in the GOP, including Trump’s VP pick J.D. Vance, who, surprisingly, likes Khan, calling her one of the current administration’s only decent picks.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
Eat plenty of fiber and nutritious food to promote healthy bowel movements and reduce straining, which could worsen pain.
—Michelle Pugle, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2024
Major upgrades are needed, but so are the actual modes of transportation available, as transportation accounts for over a quarter of global carbon dioxide emissions, which raise global temperatures that contribute to the extreme weather events straining the system.
—Li Cohen, CBS News, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for strain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strain
Verb
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Brands began to pull together resources to support refugees.Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
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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
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But wait times stayed well under an hour statewide in the morning and early afternoon, even as a steady stream of voters filtered through voting locations.Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024
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The Sprague's wetlands once filtered out phosphorus that acts as a free buffet for blue-green algae to proliferate in Upper Klamath Lake.Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Thus, consumption of THCV can be beneficial for those who struggle with weight gain and/or food craving.Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
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Historians are struggling to recover their inexpressible secrets.Erin Maglaque, The New York Review of Books, 15 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Plant food fails to provide enough nourishment for the rather strange flora, but things change when Seymour cuts his finger and drips blood on Audrey Jr.Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024
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Today’s biggest artists are watched and scrutinized by fans for their every post, like, and follow, each reply and comment dripping with a previously unseen level of entitlement.Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
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But that Friday the second-grader was elated to stretch her legs for a bear drive on state game land with her grandfather, her dad, and a dozen of his buddies.Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
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The basin stretches over eastern Montana, western North Dakota and South Dakota and the southern Canadian province of Saskatchewan.Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The proposal was, in fact, a calculated business maneuver designed to bring in billions of dollars in new revenue, box competitors out of lucrative government contracts and tighten the company’s grip on federal business.Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 15 Nov. 2024
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Donald Trump could tighten sanctions on Iran, reducing supply from the Islamic Republic and putting upward pressure on prices in the short term, the investment bank told clients in a Monday note.Jesse Pound,Samantha Subin, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The video was followed by a black-and-white image of Biles hugging Chiles, 23, and Joscelyn Roberson.Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
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Family and friends of Taylor hugged each other and cheered after leaving court late Friday night.Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2024
Verb
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There were no injuries, but three homes were damaged in the fire, which began at around 9 a.m. near Pacific Coast Highway, Mayor Doug Stewart said.Phil Helsel, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
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Officials haven’t determined the number of structures that have been damaged.CNN.com, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near strain
Cite this Entry
“Strain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strain. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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