STRIFE Synonyms: 92 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

strife

noun

ˈstrīf

Definition of strife

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in rivalry

an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another bitter strife between the two political factions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Given the financial pressures, the impact of how responsibilities and costs should be distributed is causing more strife. — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026 The world of stand-up comedy is in another round of internal strife. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026 Built up as a novel of our current strife, the book fizzles into a sort of boomer bildungsroman. — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026 But, during the past year, the organization has undergone some very public internal strife. — Austin Elias-De Jesus, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for strife

Recent Examples of Synonyms for strife

Noun

Once the wicker creation proves far more extraordinary, discord and jealousy upset the fisherwoman’s quiet village.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026
Dolan was right that distractions can trip up a team, sowing just enough discord among its players to derail their chances at another title, and cut short their fans' chances at another joyous summer.

— Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of discord

Noun

When there must be some interlude of friction or a character needs to be brought low, The Gilded Age’s preferred mechanism is a dinner, ideally a fancy one with a complicated guest list and a variety of logistical obstacles.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
All machines have their friction; and possibly this does enough good to counterbalance the evil.

— René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of friction

Noun

The journey from the theatrical release to The Final Cut, opening on the twenty‑fifth anniversary of the film in 2007, is akin to the struggle of historians to set the record straight.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
For a team that did not shy away from its Super Bowl expectations during training camp, this is the Cowboys’ chance to prove that the early season struggles were an outlier and that the plan is still in motion.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of struggle

Noun

The vote, which had been scheduled for last week, was delayed after two days of deliberations because of growing wariness among Egyptians concerned about an intervention in Yemen's long-running conflict.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
The risk of conflict is growing and the threat to the international economy is severe.

— Dan Blumenthal, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of conflict

Noun

The leader, facing a tough re-election battle, has focused much of his campaign ahead of Tuesday’s vote on security.

— Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2026
By focusing on the battles fought in luxury department stores, fashion shows, high-end spas, nail salons, and the home, the film illustrated just how limited even privileged women’s options were.

— Raymond Ang, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of battle

Noun

While Healey is expected to let a reduction in his fiscal buffer do most of the work on the basis that the Iran war has blown a hole in his accounts, tax increases are still likely.

— Ian King, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
In March, the Pentagon reportedly began shipping Patriot and THAAD components from South Korea to the Middle East to support the Iran war.

— Dan Blumenthal, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of war

Noun

Drone warfare has become the deadliest threat to civilians in Sudan's conflict and both the military and the RSF are being supplied with drones by a number of countries in the Middle East and beyond, experts previously said.

— YASSIR ABDALLA, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
Their appearance resembles equipment used by China’s J-16D electronic warfare aircraft, although analysts have not confirmed their identity or operational status.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of warfare

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striding

strife

strifes

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“Strife.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strife. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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