1
as in lineages
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
descended from a strain of Irish seafarers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in melodies
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in splashes
a very small amount
detected a strain of panic in her voice when she asked if the substance was poisonous
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in types
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common
writes mystery novels of a more sophisticated strain
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in stresses
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
as in pulls
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 filters
to pass through a filter
better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out
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3
as in struggles
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 drips
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 stretches
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 hugs
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strains
Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Calf strains also sidelined Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura for the Lakers.
—CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Nevertheless, doctors still recommend getting the vaccine for partial protection from the more common strains of influenza.
—Kendrick Calfee
january 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
LeBron James didn’t play due to left joint arthritis and sciatica, joining Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura (both nursing calf strains) on the unavailable list as the Lakers (23-12) saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.
—Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
Obtaining full genetic fingerprints for everything that’s circulating over time can also help epidemiologists track how new strains move within a geographic location, like a city or county or between different communities that are further away from each other.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Morton finished out the year, but the fifth-year quarterback has already had shoulder surgery, dealt with tricep strains, entered concussion protocol multiple times and had issues with his throwing hand.
—Ty Kaplan, Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026
But even newish construction is subject to the strains of urban expansion and the increasingly volatile climate.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
Picking those strains is a bit of a gamble, but one made less risky by the work of more sophisticated labs, like CDC.
—NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Weinstein's attorneys are asking him to discard the conviction or, at least, conduct a hearing about the jury strains.
—CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Fire access, water, traffic, parks and open space are treated like inconveniences, even as existing infrastructure already strains to keep up.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
By splicing pop songs and familiar meme formats into cruel detainment footage, ICE strains to attract a younger demographic, hoping to convince people that the agency is a vibrant—and trollishly funny—organization engaged in the noble work of putting away bad guys.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
It was first spotted in New York in June, which was months after a decision was made about which strains to target in the 2025-2026 Northern Hemisphere flu shot.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 6 Jan. 2026
These gains matter as AI infrastructure strains power grids and data center budgets worldwide.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Jan. 2026
Such a wellspring of material is seemingly inexhaustible, though the show strains a bit when working to match the festival shooting as a crucible that pushes its cast to the breaking point.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026
The ban further strains aid operations even as Gaza’s over 2 million Palestinians still face a humanitarian crisis more than 12 weeks into a ceasefire.
—Sam Mednick, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
Doctors say getting the flu vaccine is still worth it to protect against other strains that may emerge this season.
—Verb
The war in Ukraine exposes these trans-Atlantic strains most acutely.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for strains
Verb
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Tankaneo Long Trench Coat A long trench instantly pulls any outfit together, and this one does it with a fresh, fashion-forward edge.—
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The cheese pulls everything together, giving it an extra salty and savory depth.—
Verb
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Other locations that inspire quiet immersion include the cenotes of Mexico, where sunlight filters through ancient limestone caverns, and the tranquil waters of Amed, Bali, a favorite of free-divers.—
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The concept filters water, charges EVs, and is built on the TNGA-F truck platform.—
Verb
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Haunted by her own traumas and hidden scars, Kitts struggles to piece together the clues and separate Raevyn’s madness from an even more troubling reality.—
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The chain’s anniversary comes as the restaurant industry struggles with declining traffic.—
Verb
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Coffee drips through a metal filter, a slow process that creates a full-bodied cup of coffee.—
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Meanwhile, the needles gather fog into dew, which drips onto the roots.—
Verb
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Russia, which stretches over half of the Arctic Ocean coastline, currently controls a majority of the region.—
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Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado established a similar team in her 14th District, which stretches from downtown to Northeast Los Angeles.—
Verb
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But scenes like this continue to tell a different story as Iran's leadership only tightens its grip, including imposing a sweeping communications blackout that has seen the internet cut and international calls blocked.—
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Until the oil curve tightens, investors do not see developments in Venezuela as a threat to the global energy system.—
Verb
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The green zone is a band of territory that hugs much of Gaza’s eastern perimeter and includes other areas seized through months of Israeli ground operations.—
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As Dustin sobs, Steve hugs him, finally understanding why Dustin has been protecting himself from getting hurt again by putting up a hostile front.—
Verb
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For people with celiac disease, gluten triggers an autoimmune response that damages the small intestine.—
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Scientists think that chronic inflammation damages the brain and increases the risk of dementia.—
Cite this Entry
“Strains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strains. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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