The strain has begun to tell on his health.
Source: tatoeba (23606)
Strain
/stɹeɪn/
Synonyms for "strain" (875 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (10)
Determiner(1 words)
a lot of stress
Strong matches (15)
Related words (25)
anxiousnessapparentationapprehensionapprehensivenessaptitudeariaback downbalancebalkbarkbass passagebe determinedbeliebentbiasbid forbirthbleedblemishblench
Verb(1 words)
apply effort
Noun(3 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: stress, variant, a lot of stress, abrade, affectation.
- Sentence evidence is available for strain, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "strain".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "strain"
Keep "strain" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "strain" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "strain", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "strain" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
54 entriesaffectafflictanimal groupapplyattemptconditiondeformationdifficultnessdifficultydriveeffortelbow greaseemployendeavorendeavourexert force
Showing 16 of 54 words.
More specific
16 entriesCollocations
6 entriesstrain energystrain gaugestrain ratetensile strainunder strainviral strain
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
6 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesTranslations
35 translations across 14 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- разтягам verb (to stretch too far)
Danish
1 entries- overstrække verb (to stretch too far)
Dutch
1 entries- overstrekken verb (to stretch too far)
Finnish
1 entries- venäyttää verb (to stretch too far)
French
1 entries- étirer verb (to stretch too far)
German
4 entries- recken verb (to stretch too far)
- reißen verb (to stretch too far)
- verrenken verb (to stretch too far)
- zerren verb (to stretch too far)
Hungarian
4 entries- megerőltet verb (to stretch too far)
- terhet jelent verb (to stretch too far)
- túlerőltet verb (to stretch too far)
- túlfeszít verb (to stretch too far)
Ingrian
1 entries- venahtaa verb (to stretch too far)
Irish
1 entries- sníomh verb (to stretch too far)
Italian
4 entries- distorcere verb (to stretch too far)
- protrudere verb (to stretch too far)
- slogare verb (to stretch too far)
- stravolgere verb (to stretch too far)
Māori
3 entries- tanuku verb (to stretch too far)
- whakatoutou verb (to stretch too far)
- whakawhēnanau verb (to stretch too far)
Portuguese
1 entries- distender verb (to stretch too far)
Russian
2 entries- растя́гивать verb (to stretch too far)
- растяну́ть verb (to stretch too far)
Slovak
1 entries- natiahnuť verb (to stretch too far)
Sample sentences
50 total sentences available.
The liquid does not strain well.
Source: tatoeba (49486)
You'll strain your eyes trying to read in this light.
Source: tatoeba (56782)
The rope broke under the strain.
Source: tatoeba (240989)
Showing 4 of 50 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "strain"?
Closest matches include stress, variant, a lot of stress, abrade, affectation.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "strain"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.