Synonyms of strive

strive

verb

ˈstrīv 

1

as in to try

to make an effort to do

let us strive to make the most of this opportunity

Synonyms & Similar Words

• try
• attempt
• seek
• endeavor
• essay
• hope
• shoot at
• struggle
• aim
• assay
• aspire
• work
• have a go at
• try one's hand (at)
• fight
• undertake
• toil
• trouble
• assume
• take up
• strain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• quit
• drop
• give up

2

as in to struggle

to devote serious and sustained effort

not only must we strive for peace in time of war, we must strive mightily to maintain that peace

Synonyms & Similar Words

• struggle
• labor
• work
• endeavor
• try
• toil
• tug
• slave
• sweat
• hustle
• plow
• dig (away)
• plod
• plug
• beaver (away)
• bang away
• strain
• hump
• apply (oneself)
• drudge
• travail
• exert
• peg (away)
• grub
• sweat blood
• slog
• moil
• buckle (down)
• drive
• attack
• essay
• pitch in
• fag
• exercise
• dig in
• eke out
• scratch
• hammer (away)
• grind (out)
• wade
• knuckle down
• overwork
• trudge
• overexert
• put out
• scrabble

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• break
• slacken
• ease (up)
• let up
• shirk
• relax
• lounge
• rest
• hang (around or out)
• chill
• goof (off)
• bask
• unwind
• idle
• play
• slack (off)
• bum
• laze
• hang
• repose
• loaf
• hack (around)
• loll
• dabble
• veg out
• dillydally
• dally
• fool around
• trifle
• footle
• hang about
• goof (around)
• goldbrick
• doodle
• mess around
• monkey (around)
• putter (around)
• potter (around)
• fribble

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb strive differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of strive are attempt, endeavor, essay, and try. While all these words mean "to make an effort to accomplish an end," strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.

continues to strive for peace

Where would attempt be a reasonable alternative to strive?

The words attempt and strive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.

will attempt to photograph the rare bird

When is endeavor a more appropriate choice than strive?

Although the words endeavor and strive have much in common, endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.

endeavored to find crash survivors in the mountains

When is it sensible to use essay instead of strive?

In some situations, the words essay and strive are roughly equivalent. However, essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.

will essay a dramatic role for the first time

How do try and attempt relate to one another, in the sense of strive?

Try is often close to attempt but may stress effort or experiment made in the hope of testing or proving something.

tried to determine which was the better procedure

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of strive

RideSD strives to have its efforts straddle big-picture campaigns like ballot measures and smaller, more incremental efforts to lobby for upgrades to existing service, said Leif Gensert, 40, the group’s vice president. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026

Digital borrowing is proving popular for many patrons as libraries strive to improve the customer experience. —Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026

Halprin is just one of many Bay Area pioneers to strive for innovation, accessibility and diversity in dance — helping to create a rich tradition here that has long nurtured all kinds of creative movement, dance lovers say. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2026

Governance should strive to detect patterns before losses crystallize, not after litigation arrives, and boards must have the fluency to question assumptions about AI rather than simply ratify them after the fact. —Nizan Geslevich Packin, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026