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 Such optimism had for years been hard to find in a Hollywood ravaged by the pandemic, wildfires, labor strife, contraction and technological upheaval. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026 The new season will explore the fallout and tension in domestic and international relationships, and the marital strife in between. — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 That’s a very helpful insight that will, hopefully, save the family from future strife. — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026 International leadership is juggling quite a bit of strife recently. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for strife

Recent Examples of Synonyms for strife

Noun

The woman’s vanity and the husband’s forgetfulness collide to sow chaos and discord in the house.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
The discord meant the program spent much of the summer hiring replacement correspondents, including Ross Douthat, a conservative New York Times opinion writer with no experience as a TV journalist.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of discord

Noun

That friction, between floppy and finely made, sits at the heart of Esh’s ever-evolving vision for his namesake label.

— Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
The frictions in Russia’s wartime economy are growing, as massive military spending balloons the budget deficit.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of friction

Noun

Second-half struggles The Hurricanes come out like gangbusters on offense in the first half, scoring on five of their first six drives.

— Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
While Sara was working through her struggles, her mom was having her own existential crisis about what she’d be inspired to do next.

— Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of struggle

Noun

Before the conflict, Qatar exported almost one-fifth of the world’s LNG, all of it through the Strait of Hormuz.

— Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Moldova reports another drone incursion During the aerial barrages, drones have repeatedly strayed into neighboring countries, unnerving leaders who are wary of Russia and fear being dragged into conflict.

— Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of conflict

Noun

There will be recruiting battles and NIL headaches and portal defections and angry message boards and all the other insanity that comes with coaching at a place where fans consider 9-3 an average record rather than an accomplishment.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
The White Sox, meanwhile, are in a neck-and-neck battle with the Cleveland Guardians for the American League Central crown.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of battle

Noun

The countries trying to broker an end to the Iran conflict — Oman, Pakistan, and Qatar — are themselves facing military attacks and economic strain from the war, an unusual dynamic that factors into the incentives and urgency behind their mediation.

— Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2026
But Washington's negotiations with Tehran over their own war fell apart weeks ago.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of war

Browse Nearby Words

striding

strife

strifes

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Strife.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strife. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of strife

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on strife

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tactile

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes