Meaning & use

straining

adjective·Academic

Making a great physical or mental effort, or stretched tight to the point of nearly breaking.

See it in a sentence

The straining rope finally snapped under the weight of the heavy crate.

With a straining grip, he pulled himself over the edge of the cliff.

A note on using this word

Straining often appears with body parts or relationships under pressure, as in 'straining muscles' or 'a straining friendship.'

Words with a similar meaning

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