Synonyms for strain

Noun

1. strain, deformation

usage: (physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces

2. stress, strain, difficulty

usage: difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension; "she endured the stresses and strains of life"; "he presided over the economy during the period of the greatest stress and danger"- R.J.Samuelson

3. tune, melody, air, strain, melodic line, line, melodic phrase, music

usage: a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence; "she was humming an air from Beethoven"

4. strain, mental strain, nervous strain, nervousness, nerves

usage: (psychology) nervousness resulting from mental stress; "his responsibilities were a constant strain"; "the mental strain of staying alert hour after hour was too much for him"

5. breed, strain, stock, variety, animal group

usage: a special variety of domesticated animals within a species; "he experimented on a particular breed of white rats"; "he created a new strain of sheep"

6. form, variant, strain, var., taxonomic group, taxonomic category, taxon

usage: (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups; "a new strain of microorganisms"

7. breed, strain, ancestry, lineage, derivation, filiation

usage: a lineage or race of people

8. strain, injury, hurt, harm, trauma

usage: injury to a muscle (often caused by overuse); results in swelling and pain

9. tenor, strain, meaning, substance

usage: pervading note of an utterance; "I could follow the general tenor of his argument"

10. striving, nisus, pains, strain, attempt, effort, endeavor, endeavour, try

usage: an effortful attempt to attain a goal

11. strain, straining, effort, elbow grease, exertion, travail, sweat

usage: an intense or violent exertion

12. song, strain, vocal music

usage: the act of singing; "with a shout and a song they marched up to the gates"

Verb

1. strive, reach, strain, tug, labor, labour, push, drive

usage: to exert much effort or energy; "straining our ears to hear"

2. try, strain, stress, afflict

usage: test the limits of; "You are trying my patience!"

3. strain, extend, use, utilize, utilise, apply, employ

usage: use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity; "He really extended himself when he climbed Kilimanjaro"; "Don't strain your mind too much"

4. sift, sieve, strain, separate

usage: separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements; "sift the flour"

5. tense, strain, tense up, affect

usage: make tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious;

6. strain, tense, tighten

usage: stretch or force to the limit; "strain the rope"

7. filter, filtrate, strain, separate out, filter out, separate

usage: remove by passing through a filter; "filter out the impurities"

8. puree, strain, rub

usage: rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender; "puree the vegetables for the baby"

9. deform, distort, strain, shape, form

usage: alter the shape of (something) by stress; "His body was deformed by leprosy"