strained

C2+ Topic:Nature & Landscape

US /streɪnd/ UK /streɪnd/ See IPA manual

adj

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... tense forcedlaboureduneasy awkward stiff stilted

Opposites

relaxed natural easy comfortable spontaneous

Word family

Related forms strain

Etymology

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

Nature & Landscape Word Formation & Derivatives

# 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
- Nature & Landscape
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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strained

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