Ansträngd

Ansträngd is a Swedish adjective meaning strained or exerted. It describes states, actions, or conditions that have required considerable effort or that feel tense or fatigued. The term can refer to physical exertion, such as ansträngd andning (labored breathing), or to mental or emotional pressure, as in en ansträngd relation or en särskilt ansträngd arbetsdag. The word is formed from the verb anstränga (to exert oneself, to strain) and the adjectival suffix -d. In Swedish, adjectives agree with the noun in gender and number; common uses include en ansträngd situation, ett ansträngt läge, or de ansträngda åtagandena.

In practice, ansträngd is often translated as "strained," "exerted," or "taxing," depending on context. It can describe bodily states (for example, ansträngd andning) or describe atmospheres and interactions that feel tense. Example sentences include Det blev en ansträngd konversation (The conversation became strained) and Läget var ansträngt (The situation was strained).

Etymology and related forms: the adjective is derived from the verb anstränga. Related nouns include ansträngning (effort, exertion), which expands the semantic field to the degree of effort involved in a task or situation. The word is commonly used in everyday Swedish to convey fatigue, pressure, or difficulty.