straining vs effort

straining and effort both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
straining	Yes	Yes	No	No
effort	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, effort is a hypernym of straining; that is, effort is a word with a broader meaning than straining:

Other hypernyms of straining include elbow grease, exertion, sweat, travail.

straining (noun)	effort (noun)
the act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean	earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
an intense or violent exertion	use of physical or mental energy; hard work
	a notable achievement
	a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end

straining (adjective)	effort (adjective)
taxing to the utmost; testing powers of endurance