How to Use strained in a Sentence

strained

adjective
  • He made a strained attempt at being polite.
  • I took the complaint manager's strained smile to mean I wasn't a welcome sight.
  • Mix the strained potatoes in a large bowl with the grated red beets.
    — Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Dec. 2022
  • Ohtani had missed the previous games with a strained right oblique.
    — oregonlive, 17 Sep. 2023
  • Muncy has been out since May 16 with a strained oblique muscle.
    — Bill Plunkett, Orange County Register, 21 June 2024
  • Renfroe has been out since June 26 with a strained left calf.
    — Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, 9 July 2022
  • The second overall pick in the draft has missed the last eight games with a strained hamstring.
    — Kristie Rieken, Chron, 13 Dec. 2021
  • Add a cup of the strained, reserved chicken broth and whisk to combine.
    — Minerva Orduño Rincón, The Arizona Republic, 9 Mar. 2023
  • Because the roll-out has been awkward, strained, and at times bizarre.
    — Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 9 Aug. 2024
  • When Anni gets too strained, Ashi is there to cool her down.
    — Gabby Hajduk, The Indianapolis Star, 11 June 2022
  • In 2022, a strained lat delayed his big league call-up and kept him out three months.
    — Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2024
  • Chance Nolan suffered a strained neck last week at Utah.
    — oregonlive, 7 Oct. 2022
  • Thug also seems haunted by a strained love in his verse.
    — Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024
  • Randle also is out for the next few weeks because of a strained groin.
    — Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025
  • Naylor was placed on the injured list on Aug. 1 with a strained right oblique muscle.
    — Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 8 Aug. 2023
  • Humphries couldn’t finish the game because of a strained left hamstring.
    — Nate Taylor, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Engel had been out since June 23 with a strained right hamstring.
    — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2022
  • Moncada had been on the IL since Aug. 26 with a strained left hamstring.
    — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2022
  • Lillard will be out again tonight with a strained abdomen.
    — oregonlive, 6 Dec. 2021
  • The true concern is the effect that a flu surge could have on already-strained health care resources.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2022
  • Highsmith then started the second half when Jaquez was lost with a strained left groin.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2024
  • Wilson was held out of last Sunday’s 16-9 loss to the New York Jets because of a strained hamstring.
    — San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Oct. 2022
  • All of this has led to a strained atmosphere in Tbilisi, and Georgia as a whole.
    — Time, 29 Sep. 2022
  • Calhoun missed about five weeks with a strained hamstring.
    — Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 22 Sep. 2021
  • Cue the strained sporting analogy: Will the House outpace the heavyweights?
    — Paul Beckett, WSJ, 4 Oct. 2023
  • The Trojans could not close the deal, losing the Pac-12 title game to Utah with Williams hobbling through much of the game with a strained hamstring.
    — Ralph D. Russo, ajc, 11 Dec. 2022
  • Franmil Reyes, their cleanup hitter, missed 35 games with a strained left oblique.
    — Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 15 Oct. 2021
  • This is the most common type, in which the vocal cords stiffen and slam shut, causing speech to sound tight and strained.
    — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 31 Jan. 2025
  • His back hunched, his eyes remained half-closed during remarks, and his voice grew strained.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
  • State of play: DeSantis and Trump have long had a strained relationship.
    — Ivana Saric, Axios, 24 Feb. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'strained.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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