1
as in struggling
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in trying
to make an effort to do
let us strive to make the most of this opportunity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 striving
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
From the stage wings, what has always struck me most is not the brilliance but the work, the striving.
—Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2025
Perfectionism often gets misunderstood as an unstoppable striving for excellence, a quality that many of us would love to (half-heartedly) lament.
—Caroline Mimbs Nyce, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2025
Priscilla Blossom, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Utah’s state government posted a message on its website this week that officials are monitoring events in Washington connected with national park funding and are striving to protect the national parks in Utah.
—Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
As the son of Hades relentlessly striving to escape from the underworld, failure sends players back to the start; but never empty-handed.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
Though the status quo may provide good results, researchers are constantly striving for something better.
—Sheldon Jacobson, Twin Cities, 25 Sep. 2025
The true story of Spain’s cricket team striving to qualify for the Olympics, uniting diverse communities through a sport largely unknown in Spain.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
Many top performers are burning out not from overwork alone, but from the emotional toll of never feeling allowed to stop striving.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
On top of striving for clarity and organization, Virgo holds itself and others to high standards.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Chronic striving has its downsides, though.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
Like Laura bristling at Cherry taking her place by Daniel’s side, Michaela’s fury at Simone’s striving is twofold.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
From the stage wings, what has always struck me most is not the brilliance but the work, the striving.
—Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2025
Perfectionism often gets misunderstood as an unstoppable striving for excellence, a quality that many of us would love to (half-heartedly) lament.
—Caroline Mimbs Nyce, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
This is especially true for the young Latine children and families who are striving to learn the local language and customs of a country that’s already waging war against them.
—Priscilla Blossom, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Utah’s state government posted a message on its website this week that officials are monitoring events in Washington connected with national park funding and are striving to protect the national parks in Utah.
—Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
As the son of Hades relentlessly striving to escape from the underworld, failure sends players back to the start; but never empty-handed.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
Though the status quo may provide good results, researchers are constantly striving for something better.
—Sheldon Jacobson, Twin Cities, 25 Sep. 2025
The true story of Spain’s cricket team striving to qualify for the Olympics, uniting diverse communities through a sport largely unknown in Spain.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
Many top performers are burning out not from overwork alone, but from the emotional toll of never feeling allowed to stop striving.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
On top of striving for clarity and organization, Virgo holds itself and others to high standards.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Chronic striving has its downsides, though.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for striving
Verb
-
Families are struggling with rising costs while City Hall wastes millions.—
Miami Herald Staff,
Miami Herald,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Through scholarships and events, the organization aims to support and encourage people struggling with illness.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Some private business owners are still trying to process the change in Florida’s gun law.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
-
There were still five behind the ball, but one of them, Morris, was not tight enough to Ecuadorian attacker John Yeboah, and was too slow in trying to jump the pass.—
Paul Tenorio,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While the murderous struggle is hard to hear in the video, the barking continued for several minutes and is unmistakable.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Often taunted by tabloids for her unsmiling demeanor, Victoria shows off her sense of humor and gets real about some of the most difficult parts of her past, including her struggles with an eating disorder and almost losing her fashion business entirely.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
With The Fulfillment, the sub-context is how clout culture is a currency, how attention itself has become a currency, just like our laboring bodies are.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
19 Sep. 2025
-
While such a scenario sounds potentially maudlin and manipulative, Lucero — who wrote the film from a personal place — never allows that to happen by making the characters complex and flawed, and laboring under real-life issues.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Instead of gradually boiling into insanity, the film hits fever pitch hallucinations right away and quickly exhausts itself attempting to keep pace.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
-
According to the Mexico City Secretariat of Public Safety, Dorcaz was shot in the neck while attempting to exit a road and died instantly at the scene, TMZ reports.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The woman, Pat, warned that Audrey had bitten people and failed to adjust during previous attempts to rehome her.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The Yankees added three more runs from there as the bullpen was able to stymie any hope of a Blue Jays comeback attempt.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
All federal employees who are not paid during the shutdown, whether they were furloughed or remained working, are entitled by law to back pay once the shutdown ends.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Too many working families are being priced out of their own neighborhoods.—
Miami Herald Staff,
Miami Herald,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There’s this epic undertaking, spanning over 150 characters and speaking parts and tons of locations and having to shoot incredibly long hours.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Oct. 2025
-
That seems like quite a serious undertaking for a half-hour comedy about a disgraced former college football player who sets off to redeem himself by catfishing his way into becoming the quarterback for an underdog team in south Georgia.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Striving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/striving. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share