1. Lacking natural ease
   "a strained style of debating";
   - labored [US], laboured [Brit, Cdn]
    
2. Showing signs of mental and emotional tension
   "her voice was strained as she asked the question"
    
3. Lacking spontaneity; not natural
   "a strained smile";
   - constrained, forced
    
4. Struggling for effect
   "strained poses";
   - agonistic

1. To exert much effort or energy
   "straining our ears to hear";
   - strive, reach
    
2. Use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity
   "Don't strain your mind too much";
   - extend
    
3. Test the limits of
   "You are straining my patience!";
   - try, stress
    
4. Separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements
   "strain the flour";
   - sift, sieve
    
5. Remove by passing through a filter
   "strain out the impurities";
   - filter, filtrate, filter out
    
6. (cooking) rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender
   "strain the vegetables for the baby";
   - puree, purée
    
7. Become stretched, tense or taut
   "the rope strained when the weight was attached";
   - tense
    
8. Cause to be tense and uneasy, nervous or anxious
   "The deadline strained everyone in the office";
   - tense, tense up
    
9. Alter the shape of (something) by stress
   "The heavy load strained the rope";
   - deform, distort
    
10. Push to the limits of capability or endurance
    "The steep climb strained even experienced hikers"; "The complex problem strained her mathematical skills";
    - challenge, tax, test

See also: affected, awkward, tense, unnatural

Type of: affect, afflict, apply, drive, employ, form, labor [US], labour [Brit, Cdn], plough [Brit], plough on [Brit], plow [US], plow on [US], push, rub, separate, shape, sweat, tighten, tug, use, utilise [Brit], utilize

Antonym: unlax [informal, rare]

Encyclopedia: Strained