strained, adj.
freq. cnt. 5
freq. cnt. 5
lacking natural ease
<adj.all> freq. cnt.: 3 freq. cnt.: 3
labored laboured strained
showing signs of mental and emotional tension
<adj.all> freq. cnt.: 2 freq. cnt.: 2
strained
sample sentences
"her voice was strained as she asked the question"
semantic pointers
similar to
struggling for effect
<adj.all>
agonistic strained
lacking spontaneity; not natural
<adj.all>
constrained forced strained
sample sentences
"a constrained smile""forced heartiness"
"a strained smile"
semantic pointers
similar to