Synonyms of strives

strives

verb

present tense third-person singular of strive

1

as in struggles

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

• struggles
• labors
• tries
• works
• endeavors
• tugs
• toils
• hustles
• slaves
• plows
• sweats
• digs (away)
• plods
• pegs (away)
• humps
• plugs
• slogs
• grubs
• strains
• drudges
• travails
• bangs away
• fags
• exerts
• sweats blood
• beavers (away)
• moils
• applies (oneself)
• drives
• buckles (down)
• hammers (away)
• pitches in
• attacks
• knuckles down
• digs in
• overworks
• exercises
• wades
• ekes out
• essays
• scratches
• trudges
• grinds (out)
• scrabbles
• puts out
• overexerts

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• breaks
• slackens
• shirks
• lets up
• rests
• eases (up)
• relaxes
• idles
• dallies
• hangs (around or out)
• lazes
• slacks (off)
• basks
• unwinds
• reposes
• plays
• goofs (off)
• chills
• loafs
• lounges
• hangs
• goldbricks
• hacks (around)
• bums
• dillydallies
• lolls
• dabbles
• footles
• fribbles
• fools around
• putters (around)
• goofs (around)
• messes around
• trifles
• hangs about
• vegges out
• monkeys (around)
• potters (around)
• doodles

2

as in tries

to make an effort to do

let us strive to make the most of this opportunity

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tries
• attempts
• seeks
• endeavors
• hopes
• shoots at
• aims
• essays
• aspires
• struggles
• assays
• undertakes
• has a go at
• works
• tries one's hand (at)
• troubles
• toils
• fights
• assumes
• takes up
• strains

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• drops
• gives up
• quits

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of strives

In so doing, the tradition could achieve for ASL what the word of the year strives to achieve for English. — New York Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Said soup is being attended to by at least four cooks, as Hal (with helpful coaching by an off-camera Kate) strives to explain himself to Grace back at the embassy, and then the two of them work to get Eidra on-side. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026

Yet, this tense adventure makes a strong case that bad parents can still teach good lessons, even when a kid strives to live in opposition to their folks. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Katie strives to use catering companies that adhere to the teachings of the Make America Healthy Again movement, one regular guest says, which encourages the consumption of raw milk and the avoidance of seed oils. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 8 Oct. 2026

Allin, who is the AEW TNT champion, strives to win AEW tag team gold with Borden, after winning it with Borden’s father, the legendary Sting. — James Varsallone, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026

In a poetic blend of reality and imagination, a vivacious Brooklyn teenager strives to reclaim her own fleeting childhood while helping raise her four younger sisters. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026

Ashby also strives to protect the planet and those most impacted by the climate crisis, invest in arts and entertainment and advocate for women’s issues. — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026

Till is a member of the Firekeeper Alliance, which has close ties with the festival, and strives to decrease the suicide rate among indigenous youths through teaching them about heavy metal. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2026