Standard Lemma guide

strained

adj · verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /stɹeɪ̯nd/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪnd
  • CMU ARPABET: S T R EY1 N D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Forced through a strainer.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Babies don’t seem to like strained peas, even though the puree is easy for them to eat and digest.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Under tension; tense.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Ever since the fight our relationship has been strained.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Not natural or spontaneous but done with effort

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • A strained smile.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

simple past and past participle of strain

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, participle, past

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

struggling for effect

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • agonistic poses

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: agonistic

Antonyms: none provided

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

lacking spontaneity; not natural

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a constrained smile
  • forced heartiness
  • a strained smile

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: constrained, forced

Antonyms: none provided

7

adjective satellite

Meaning 7

lacking natural ease

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a labored style of debating

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: labored, laboured

Antonyms: none provided

8

adjective satellite

Meaning 8

showing signs of mental and emotional tension

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • her voice was strained as she asked the question

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: изцеден (izceden) — forced through strainer
  • Hungarian: passzírozott — forced through strainer
  • Hungarian: pépesített — forced through strainer
  • Hungarian: pürésített — forced through strainer
  • Spanish: pasado por cedazo — forced through strainer
  • Bulgarian: напрегнат (napregnat) — tense
  • Dutch: gespannen — tense
  • French: tendu — tense
  • German: angespannt — tense
  • Hungarian: feszült — tense
  • Italian: teso — tense
  • Spanish: tenso — tense
  • Spanish: tensado — tense
  • Spanish: tensionado — tense
  • Swedish: ansträngd — tense
  • Swedish: spänd — tense
  • Hungarian: erőltetett — not natural or spontaneous but done with effort