strife

noun \ ˈstrīf \

|Updated on: 10 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: strife in a Sentence

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

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strifeless

play \ˈstrī-fləs\ adjective

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Examples of strife in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of strife from the Web

After all that internal strife, Project Maven's dissenters have apparently won out.

— ron amadeo, Ars Technica, "Google reportedly won’t renew controversial drone imaging program," 1 June 2018
The strife is also affecting the fight against Boko Haram, a jihadist insurgency that has spilled over from Nigeria into neighbouring countries.

— The Economist, "Repression is worsening in Cameroon amid an uprising over language," 31 May 2018
Special Agent Kurt Siuzdak’s lawsuit, filed in 2014, exposed allegations of internal strife and dysfunction within the FBI’s main Connecticut office in New Haven.

— Washington Post, "Feds won’t release details of settlement with FBI agent," 28 May 2018
Los Angeles Times Director departs: The Museum of Contemporary Art, ensconced in uncertainty and internal strife for months, announced Friday that director Philippe Vergne is leaving.

— shelby grad, latimes.com, "Essential California: USC President Nikias steps down amid uproar," 26 May 2018
Administration officials have said decisions to end various TPS programs were based on how a given has country has recovered from a natural disaster, political upheaval or other internal strife that led to the designation in the first place.

— alicia a. caldwell, WSJ, "Trump Administration Ends Program for Honduran Immigrants," 4 May 2018
Nikolas Cruz was unable to cope with the brotherly strife that an average boy might have shrugged off.

— brittany wallman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Broken relationship haunts brothers Nikolas and Zachary Cruz," 16 Apr. 2018
The strife has included personality conflicts and complaints of excessively large workloads.

— eric heisig, cleveland.com, "Investigation into executive director latest instance of turbulence for Cleveland Community Police Commission," 9 Apr. 2018
There has been speculation about frustrations on both sides of the relationship between Belichick and Gronkowski, adding to the melodrama engulfing the organization after last season's reports of internal strife involving Brady, Belichick and Kraft.

— mark maske, chicagotribune.com, "Trading Rob Gronkowski would be unthinkable. Except perhaps to Bill Belichick.," 4 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'strife.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology 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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

strife Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of strife

discord, strife, conflict, contention, dissension, variance mean a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony. discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism.