strife

strife

noun \ˈstrīf\

Definition of STRIFE

1

a : bitter sometimes violent conflict or dissension <political strife>

b : an act of contention : fight, struggle

2

: exertion or contention for superiority

3

archaic : earnest endeavor

— strife·less \ˈstrī-fləs\ adjective

Examples of STRIFE

1. <in order to avoid family strife, the children spend equal time during the holidays with both of their grandmothers>
2. <bitter strife between the two political factions>

Origin of STRIFE

Middle English strif, from Anglo-French estrif, estri, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch striden to fight, Old High German strītan to quarrel — more at stride

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to STRIFE

Synonyms

conflict, disaccord, discordance, discordancy, disharmony, dissension (also dissention), dissent, dissidence, dissonance, disunion, disunity, division, friction, infighting, inharmony, schism, discord, variance, war, warfare

Antonyms

accord, agreement, concord, concordance, harmony, peace

Related Words

clash, collision, competition, contention; altercation, argument, bicker, brawl, debate, disagreement, dispute, divide, fissure; falling-out, fight, hassle, jar, miff, mix-up, quarrel, row, run-in, scrap, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangle; incompatibility, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness, inconsistence, inconsistency, inconsonance, inharmoniousness; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, cold war, enmity, hostility, ill will, rancor

Near Antonyms

concurrence, cooperation

See Synonym Discussion at discord

Rhymes with STRIFE

fife, Fife, knife, life, rife, wife