Synonyms of straining

1. strain, straining, effort, elbow grease, exertion, travail, sweat: usage: an intense or violent exertion
2. distortion, overrefinement, straining, torture, twisting, falsification, misrepresentation: usage: the act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean

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: cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious; "he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up"
6. strain, tense, tighten: usage: become stretched or tense or taut; "the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;" "the rope strained when the weight was attached"
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"

1. arduous, straining, strenuous, effortful (vs. effortless): usage: taxing to the utmost; testing powers of endurance; "his final, straining burst of speed"; "a strenuous task"; "your willingness after these six arduous days to remain here"- F.D.Roosevelt