strained

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The EU’s relationship with the U.S. became strained last year when it sought to negotiate a new trade deal with the White House.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

United were in disarray when Amorim was dismissed, with poor results and disagreements over the Portuguese's tactics and formation leading to an increasingly strained relationship with club officials at the end of his 14-month tenure.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

Such elements do appear in the book, but there’s no sense that Ms. Lutz has strained to find and exploit them.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

A total of 55% of family caregivers have felt financially strained, according to AARP.

From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026

Jonathan tried to sound excited and happy but his voice came out strained.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret