Synonyms of strife

strife

noun

ˈstrīf 

1

as in discord

a lack of agreement or harmony

in order to avoid family strife, the children spend equal time during the holidays with both of their grandmothers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• discord
• friction
• conflict
• war
• discordance
• warfare
• schism
• dissent
• discordancy
• division
• dispute
• disunity
• dissension
• clash
• disharmony
• infighting
• dissonance
• variance
• altercation
• hostility
• disunion
• dissidence
• inharmony
• disagreement
• divide
• contention
• fight
• argument
• debate
• disaccord
• quarrel
• collision
• competition
• fissure
• squabble
• brawl
• animosity
• enmity
• spat
• bicker
• inconsistency
• tiff
• falling-out
• rancor
• antagonism
• incongruity
• incompatibility
• wrangle
• incongruence
• run-in
• row
• hassle
• antipathy
• mix-up
• cold war
• ill will
• jar
• inconsistence
• scrap
• incongruousness
• miff
• inconsonance
• inharmoniousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peace
• agreement
• harmony
• accord
• cooperation
• concord
• concordance
• concurrence

2

as in rivalry

an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another

bitter strife between the two political factions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rivalry
• struggle
• battle
• conflict
• warfare
• competition
• war
• confrontation
• contention
• duel
• contest
• match
• clash
• combat
• tug-of-war
• dogfight
• ball game
• showdown
• discord
• face-off
• friction
• sweepstakes
• dispute
• debate
• grapple
• quarrel
• controversy
• dissension
• collision
• disputation
• horse race
• disagreement
• argument
• nail-biter
• row
• wrangle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peace
• harmony
• concord

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

Recent Examples of strife

Next year’s game is scheduled for the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field for the first time since 1990, but is threatened by possible labor strife. — Ronald Blum, Mercury News, 15 July 2026

The transfer of the Chelsea art space is only the epilogue for Marlborough’s multi-year breakdown—the gallery’s closure in 2024 came after years of escalating strife and discord. — News Desk, Artforum, 9 July 2026

When her parents — the wonderful June Diane Raphael and Tom Everett Scott — fall into professional reputational strife, the family is forced to relocate to Seattle to rebuild their lives. — Scarlett Harris, IndieWire, 6 July 2026

But labor strife here is spilling off of the docks and into City Hall, with political implications for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, himself a former labor organizer who is expected to run for reelection in less than a year. — Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026