strife

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun strife contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of strife are conflict, contention, discord, dissension, and variance. While all these words mean "a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony," strife emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved.

during his brief reign the empire was never free of civil strife

When is it sensible to use conflict instead of strife?

While the synonyms conflict and strife are close in meaning, conflict usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires.

the conflict of freedom and responsibility

In what contexts can contention take the place of strife?

The words contention and strife can be used in similar contexts, but contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy.

several points of contention about the new zoning law

When could discord be used to replace strife?

While in some cases nearly identical to strife, discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism.

a political party long racked by discord

When might dissension be a better fit than strife?

The words dissension and strife are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions.

religious dissension threatened to split the colony

When would variance be a good substitute for strife?

In some situations, the words variance and strife are roughly equivalent. However, variance implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest.

cultural variances that work against a national identity

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of strife Michelle Obama is throwing more cold water on rumors of marital strife with the ex-commander in chief. Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 1 May 2025 Attempting to rearrange these relationships is just going to cause marital strife for you. R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2025 For all the chaos and strife of the tariffs in the opening act of his second term, Trump’s U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade deal, which went into effect in 2020, and his negotiations with China during his first term indicate some ability not just to pick economic fights but to try to settle them. Jennifer M. Harris, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025 As strife continues over the economy and other policies, there could be political ramifications for the White House and Republicans heading into the 2026 midterm elections. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for strife
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strife
Noun
  • What all of these cases have in common is a truly gigantic deer, and then, sadly, lots of discord within the hunting community.
    Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 May 2025
  • In addition to the discord within the athletic department, Ritz acknowledged in an April 11 email to the community that he’s also dealt with two other serious issues involving staffers.
    Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • At times, the rivalry between the players has become the biggest topic of discussion in sports and eclipsed the athletic world, raising issues of race and gender equality.
    Sean Neumann, People.com, 20 May 2025
  • This is a space that is ripe for standardization, the entry of new players in the market, and more vendor rivalries and drama.
    John Burek, PC Magazine, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • Ander Herrera was yet another player to have friction with Van Gaal at United (the manager once told him off for shooting — and scoring — with a first-time effort instead of taking a touch).
    Carl Anka, New York Times, 16 May 2025
  • Those friction points are the real roadmap to a better UX.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Denver won Game 3 because Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray each scored at least 20 points, which went a long way toward subduing the struggles of Jokić.
    Tony Jones, New York Times, 12 May 2025
  • Amid this struggle, Brianna has contemplated the legacies that many think of when considering their mothers.
    Maquita Peters, NPR, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • The White House has said there is no conflict and that the president is acting in the interests of the American public and not his own.
    Susan Heavey, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • Beneath the surface, there are, in fact, some major conflicts brewing in Enzo’s life: He’s been waging a quiet war against his bourgeois parents (Pierfrancesco Favino, Elodie Bouchez), rejecting the typical academic route that his older brother (Nathan Japy) has successfully chosen.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • As a 60-person battle royale, matches can be extremely long and, in tournament play, repeat over and over for hours until a winning team can be crowned.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2025
  • It’s been a tough week for lovers of battle royale games on mobile.
    James Peckham, PC Magazine, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • After months of escalating tariffs between the world’s two largest economies, the trade war between the U.S. and China is entering a new chapter – a steep reduction of their respective tariffs for 90 days as the two countries continue trade talk this week.
    Dian Zhang, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • People are preparing for the thought that America might not be with us if this land war spreads, and Putin follows in the role of the Soviet Union and puts tanks in Czechoslovakia and just takes over.
    Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • Both sides have ramped up cross-border drone warfare, often going deeper into each country's territory.
    Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 10 May 2025
  • With missiles tracking targets from miles away, nations are pouring resources into stealth, advanced avionics, and electronic warfare—reshaping doctrines for a battlefield no longer visible to the naked eye.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Strife.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strife. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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