Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun strain
11 senses of strain
Sense 1
strain -- ((physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces)
=> deformation -- (alteration in the shape or dimensions of an object as a result of the application of stress to it)
Sense 2
stress, strain -- (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)
=> difficulty -- (a condition or state of affairs almost beyond one's ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome; "grappling with financial difficulties")
Sense 3
tune, melody, air, strain, melodic line, line, melodic phrase -- (a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence; "she was humming an air from Beethoven")
=> music -- (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)
Sense 4
strain, mental strain, nervous strain -- ((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")
=> nervousness, nerves -- (an uneasy psychological state; "he suffered an attack of nerves")
Sense 5
breed, strain, stock -- (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")
=> variety -- ((biology) a taxonomic category consisting of members of a species that differ from others of the same species in minor but heritable characteristics; "varieties are frequently recognized in botany")
=> animal group -- (a group of animals)
Sense 6
form, variant, strain, var. -- ((biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups; "a new strain of microorganisms")
=> taxonomic group, taxonomic category, taxon -- (animal or plant group having natural relations)
Sense 7
strain -- (injury to a muscle (often caused by overuse); results in swelling and pain)
=> injury, hurt, harm, trauma -- (any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.)
Sense 8
tenor, strain -- (the general meaning or substance of an utterance; "although I disagreed with him I could follow the tenor of his argument")
=> meaning, substance -- (the idea that is intended; "What is the meaning of this proverb?")
Sense 9
striving, nisus, pains, strain -- (an effortful attempt to attain a goal)
=> attempt, effort, endeavor, endeavour, try -- (earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something; "made an effort to cover all the reading material"; "wished him luck in his endeavor"; "she gave it a good try")
Sense 10
strain, straining -- (an intense or violent exertion)
=> effort, elbow grease, exertion, travail, sweat -- (use of physical or mental energy; hard work; "he got an A for effort"; "they managed only with great exertion")
Sense 11
song, strain -- (the act of singing; "with a shout and a song they marched up to the gates")
=> vocal music -- (music that is vocalized (as contrasted with instrumental music))
Antonyms of verb strain
1 of 9 senses of strain
Sense 5
tense, strain, tense up -- (cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious; "he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up")
Antonym of unstrain (Sense 1)
=> relax, unstrain, unlax, loosen up, unwind, make relaxed -- (cause to feel relaxed; "A hot bath always relaxes me")
Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb strain
9 senses of strain
Sense 1
strive, reach, strain -- (to exert much effort or energy; "straining our ears to hear")
=> tug, labor, labour, push, drive -- (strive and make an effort to reach a goal; "She tugged for years to make a decent living"; "We have to push a little to make the deadline!"; "She is driving away at her doctoral thesis")
Sense 2
try, strain, stress -- (test the limits of; "You are trying my patience!")
=> afflict -- (cause great unhappiness for; distress; "she was afflicted by the death of her parents")
Sense 3
strain, extend -- (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")
=> use, utilize, utilise, apply, employ -- (put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose; "use your head!"; "we only use Spanish at home"; "I can't use this tool"; "Apply a magnetic field here"; "This thinking was applied to many projects"; "How do you utilize this tool?"; "I apply this rule to get good results"; "use the plastic bags to store the food"; "He doesn't know how to use a computer")
Sense 4
sift, sieve, strain -- (separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements; "sift the flour")
=> separate -- (divide into components or constituents; "Separate the wheat from the chaff")
Sense 5
tense, strain, tense up -- (cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious; "he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up")
=> affect -- (act physically on; have an effect upon; "the medicine affects my heart rate")
Sense 6
strain, tense -- (become stretched or tense or taut; "the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;" "the rope strained when the weight was attached")
=> tighten -- (become tight or tighter; "The rope tightened")
Sense 7
filter, filtrate, strain, separate out, filter out -- (remove by passing through a filter; "filter out the impurities")
=> separate -- (divide into components or constituents; "Separate the wheat from the chaff")
Sense 8
puree, strain -- (rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender; "puree the vegetables for the baby")
=> rub -- (move over something with pressure; "rub my hands"; "rub oil into her skin")
Sense 9
deform, distort, strain -- (alter the shape of (something) by stress; "His body was deformed by leprosy")
=> shape, form -- (give shape or form to; "shape the dough"; "form the young child's character")
