There are various synonyms for the word "straining" that are commonly used in the English language. Some of these synonyms include "pulling," "stressing," "exerting," "stretching," "tensing," "twisting," "wringing," and "overworking." These words all have different connotations and can be used in different contexts. For example, "pulling" might be used to describe physical strain, while "stressing" could be used to describe emotional strain. "Wringing" might be used in the context of squeezing or extracting something, while "overworking" could be used to describe a situation where someone is putting too much effort into something. Overall, these synonyms can be useful when trying to effectively communicate the nature of strain in different situations.