strained C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities US /streɪnd/ UK /streɪnd/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adj showing signs of tension or effort; not relaxed or natural Relations between the two nations grew strained. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · showing signs of tension or... tenseforcedlaboureduneasyawkwardstiffstilted ↔ Opposites relaxednaturaleasycomfortablespontaneous Word family Related forms strain Etymology AI details Past participle of 'strain' (via Old French 'estreindre', from Latin 'stringere', to draw tight, bind), used adjectivally of tension or unnaturalness. stringere Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # strained **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /streɪnd/ **IPA (UK):** /streɪnd/ ## Meanings 1. showing signs of tension or effort; not relaxed or natural ## Examples - Relations between the two nations grew strained. ## Synonyms - tense - forced - laboured - uneasy - awkward - stiff - stilted ## Antonyms - relaxed - natural - easy - comfortable - spontaneous ## Related Forms - strain ## Roots and Affixes - Root: stringere ## Etymology Past participle of 'strain' (via Old French 'estreindre', from Latin 'stringere', to draw tight, bind), used adjectivally of tension or unnaturalness. ## AI Etymology Strained is the past participle of 'strain' (via Old French 'estreindre', from Latin 'stringere', to draw tight, bind), used adjectivally of tension or unnaturalness. The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As an adjective, it carries the sense "showing signs of tension or effort; not relaxed or natural", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin stringere. Related words include strain. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown