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Synonyms

strapped

American  
[strapt] / stræpt /

adjective

  1. needy; wanting.

    The company is rather strapped for funds.
strapped British  
/ stræpt /

adjective

  1. slang badly in need (of money, manpower, etc); short of

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • well-strapped adjective

Etymology

Origin of strapped

First recorded in 1775–85; strap + -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.

Some workers complain that receiving calls and messages can interrupt their recordings, and having a phone strapped to their head is uncomfortable.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

The crew will be strapped into the Orion capsule, which is located at the top of the rocket.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

School districts counter that they are financially strapped.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

In Kramer’s film, Juliette Lewis plays Camille, an absurdly chic yet financially strapped woman preoccupied with keeping up appearances for no reason other than that it’s what’s expected of her.

From Salon • Feb. 18, 2026

He was wearing a leather aviator helmet with goggles and had a pair of feathered wings strapped to.his back.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

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.