adjective
Uncommon
strained
straynd
Strained (adjective) means Tense, forced, or lacking in ease, especially describing a relationship or expression. Example: “There was a strained silence after the announcement.”
adjective
1
Tense, forced, or lacking in ease, especially describing a relationship or expression.
"There was a strained silence after the announcement."
"Relations between the two countries remain strained."
2
Passed through a strainer or sieve.
"Baby food is usually strained to a smooth texture."
How to use strained
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTense and uneasy, not natural or relaxed — or, of food, put through a sieve.
Common pairings
strained relationship
strained smile
strained relations
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like strained.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more strained
- Superlative
- most strained
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There was a _____ silence after the announcement.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for strained
See all rhymes for strained →Frequently asked questions
What does “strained” mean?
The word “strained” means tense, forced, or lacking in ease, especially describing a relationship or expression. In plain terms, tense and uneasy, not natural or relaxed — or, of food, put through a sieve.
How do you pronounce “strained”?
“Strained” is pronounced straynd (/stɹeɪ̯nd/ in IPA).
How do you use “strained” in a sentence?
Here is “strained” used in a sentence: “There was a strained silence after the announcement.”
What part of speech is “strained”?
“Strained” is an adjective.
Is “strained” a common word?
“Strained” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “strained” have?
“Strained” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: tense, forced, or lacking in ease, especially describing a relationship or expression.
