strained

(verb) to exert much effort or energy. Synonyms: strive, reach, strain. Example: "Straining our ears to hear."

(verb) test the limits of. Synonyms: try, strain, stress. Example: "You are trying my patience!."

(verb) use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity. Synonyms: strain, extend. Examples: "He really extended himself when he climbed kilimanjaro." "Don't strain your mind too much."

(verb) separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements. Synonyms: sift, sieve, strain. Example: "Sift the flour."

(verb) cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious. Synonyms: tense, strain, tense up. Example: "He got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up."

(verb) become stretched or tense or taut. Synonyms: strain, tense. Example: "The bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;" "the rope strained when the weight was attached."

(verb) remove by passing through a filter. Synonyms: filter, filtrate, strain, separate out, filter out. Example: "Filter out the impurities."

(verb) rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender. Synonyms: puree, strain. Example: "Puree the vegetables for the baby."

(verb) alter the shape of (something) by stress. Synonyms: deform, distort, strain. Example: "His body was deformed by leprosy."

(adj) lacking natural ease. Synonyms: labored, laboured. Example: "A labored style of debating."

(adj) showing signs of mental and emotional tension. Example: "Her voice was strained as she asked the question."

(adj) lacking spontaneity; not natural. Synonyms: constrained, forced. Examples: "A constrained smile." "Forced heartiness." "A strained smile."

(adj) struggling for effect. Synonyms: agonistic. Example: "Agonistic poses."