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

In addition to revolutionizing the salsa movement, Colón also strived to change his community as an activist, advocating for social justice in New York’s Latin neighborhoods. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026

Japan has been striving to develop stem-cell therapies, with Kyoto University’s CiRA, which runs a clinical-grade iPS cell bank, providing researchers access to prepared cells that can be used in trials for a range of conditions. —Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026

Indiana Republican leaders are solidifying a partnership with TPUSA that would strive to start chapters in every school and punish those who block their creation, IndyStar reported earlier this month. —Cate Charron, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026

Curtains complete a room and give it the ambiance the owner is striving for while also providing essential functions. —Lyssanoel Frater, jsonline.com, 20 Feb. 2026