'Strained' definitions:
Definition of 'strained'
From: WordNet
adjective
adjective
Showing signs of mental and emotional tension; "her voice was strained as she asked the question"
adjective
Lacking spontaneity; not natural; "a constrained smile"; "forced heartiness"; "a strained smile" [syn: constrained, forced, strained]
adjective
Struggling for effect; "agonistic poses" [syn: agonistic, strained]
Definition of 'Strained'
From: GCIDE
- Strain \Strain\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Strained; p. pr. & vb. n. Straining.] [OF. estraindre, estreindre, F. ['e]treindre, L. stringere to draw or bind tight; probably akin to Gr. ? a halter, ? that which is squeezwd out, a drop, or perhaps to E. strike. Cf. Strangle, Strike, Constrain, District, Strait, a. Stress, Strict, Stringent.]
- 1. To draw with force; to extend with great effort; to stretch; as, to strain a rope; to strain the shrouds of a ship; to strain the cords of a musical instrument. "To strain his fetters with a stricter care." --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Mech.) To act upon, in any way, so as to cause change of form or volume, as forces on a beam to bend it. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To exert to the utmost; to ply vigorously. [1913 Webster]
- He sweats, Strains his young nerves. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- They strain their warbling throats To welcome in the spring. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- 4. To stretch beyond its proper limit; to do violence to, in the matter of intent or meaning; as, to strain the law in order to convict an accused person. [1913 Webster]
- There can be no other meaning in this expression, however some may pretend to strain it. --Swift. [1913 Webster]
- 5. To injure by drawing, stretching, or the exertion of force; as, the gale strained the timbers of the ship. [1913 Webster]
- 6. To injure in the muscles or joints by causing to make too strong an effort; to harm by overexertion; to sprain; as, to strain a horse by overloading; to strain the wrist; to strain a muscle. [1913 Webster]
- Prudes decayed about may track, Strain their necks with looking back. --Swift. [1913 Webster]
- 7. To squeeze; to press closely. [1913 Webster]
- Evander with a close embrace Strained his departing friend. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- 8. To make uneasy or unnatural; to produce with apparent effort; to force; to constrain. [1913 Webster]
- He talks and plays with Fatima, but his mirth Is forced and strained. --Denham. [1913 Webster]
- The quality of mercy is not strained. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 9. To urge with importunity; to press; as, to strain a petition or invitation. [1913 Webster]
- Note, if your lady strain his entertainment. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 10. To press, or cause to pass, through a strainer, as through a screen, a cloth, or some porous substance; to purify, or separate from extraneous or solid matter, by filtration; to filter; as, to strain milk through cloth. [1913 Webster]
- To strain a point, to make a special effort; especially, to do a degree of violence to some principle or to one's own feelings.
- To strain courtesy, to go beyond what courtesy requires; to insist somewhat too much upon the precedence of others; -- often used ironically. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Strained'
From: GCIDE
- Strained \Strained\, a.
- 1. Subjected to great or excessive tension; wrenched; weakened; as, strained relations between old friends. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Done or produced with straining or excessive effort; as, his wit was strained. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'strained'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- agitated,
- all-overish,
- anxious,
- anxioused up,
- apprehensive,
- arduous,
- artificial,
- awkward,
- backbreaking,
- biased,
- bothered,
- burdensome,
- chill,
- chilly,
- cold,
- concerned,
- cooked,
- cool,
- crushing,
- difficult,
- disaccordant,
- disquieted,
- distant,
- disturbed,
- doctored,
- dragged out,
- drawn,
- drawn out,
- effortful,
- elongated,
- extended,
- farfetched,
- fearful,
- forced,
- foreboding,
- frosty,
- garbled,
- grueling,
- hard-earned,
- hard-fought,
- heavy,
- hefty,
- Herculean,
- icy,
- improbable,
- in a pucker,
- in a stew,
- incompatible,
- inhospitable,
- inimical,
- insincere,
- killing,
- labored,
- laborious,
- lengthened,
- misgiving,
- misquoted,
- misrepresented,
- nervous,
- on tenterhooks,
- onerous,
- operose,
- oppressive,
- out-of-the-way,
- overanxious,
- overapprehensive,
- painful,
- perturbed,
- perverted,
- prolongated,
- prolonged,
- protracted,
- pulled,
- punishing,
- put-on,
- quite another thing,
- remote,
- self-conscious,
- slanted,
- solicitous,
- something else again,
- spun out,
- stiff,
- straggling,
- strenuous,
- stretched,
- stretched out,
- stretched tight,
- strung out,
- suspenseful,
- taut,
- tense,
- tight,
- toilsome,
- tortured,
- tough,
- troubled,
- troublesome,
- twisted,
- unamiable,
- unamicable,
- uncomfortable,
- uncordial,
- under a strain,
- uneasy,
- unfriendly,
- ungenial,
- unharmonious,
- unnatural,
- unrelaxed,
- unsociable,
- uphill,
- uptight,
- wearisome,
- zealous