strained
Americanadjective
adjective
-
(of an action, performance, etc) not natural or spontaneous
-
(of an atmosphere, relationship, etc) not relaxed; tense
Other Word Forms
- strainedly adverb
- strainedness noun
- well-strained adjective
Etymology
Origin of strained
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; strain 1, -ed 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Cakarel said some business and creative relationships are still strained, but the company is bringing at least six movies to next month’s Cannes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
Luka Doncic is receiving medical treatment in Europe to repair a strained hamstring with the hope of returning to the Lakers before the playoffs start.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
Relations strained further when US troops killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden on Pakistani soil in 2011 without telling Islamabad, and Pakistan faced accusations of complicity in harbouring the fugitive.
From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026
The disruption to global shipments caused by the war in the Middle East has strained cooking gas supplies in India.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026
He strained his neck to see the street sign, but it was too late.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
