1
: done or produced with excessive effort
2
: pushed by antagonism near to open conflict
strained relations
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
Forbes reported that the relationship between Natalia and the Mans family became strained in 2023, the same year the couple officially adopted her.
—
Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Overtourism is a serious concern, particularly for smaller ports, where large crowds can have a significant impact, leading to strained infrastructure and affecting local quality of life.
—Jessica Benavides Canepa, AFAR Media, 17 Apr. 2025
After months of tension over these issues, their relationship grew strained.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Decisions come after Trump tells the Supreme Court to 'fix' lower courts
The decisions come as the Trump administration's relationship with judges has quickly become strained.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strained
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Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Overtourism is a serious concern, particularly for smaller ports, where large crowds can have a significant impact, leading to strained infrastructure and affecting local quality of life.
—Jessica Benavides Canepa, AFAR Media, 17 Apr. 2025
After months of tension over these issues, their relationship grew strained.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Decisions come after Trump tells the Supreme Court to 'fix' lower courts
The decisions come as the Trump administration's relationship with judges has quickly become strained.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strained
Cite this Entry
“Strained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strained. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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