strained

adjectives

lacking natural ease
"a labored style of debating"
labored, laboured, strained
showing signs of mental and emotional tension
"her voice was strained as she asked the question"
strained
is similar to
in or of a state of physical or nervous tension
tense
lacking spontaneity; not natural
"a constrained smile"; "forced heartiness"; "a strained smile"
constrained, forced, strained
struggling for effect
"agonistic poses"
agonistic, strained