STRIVING Synonyms: 123 Similar and Opposite Words

striving 1 of 2

noun

as in struggle

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striving

2 of 2

verb

present participle of strive

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Noun

That contradiction is harder to overlook in Lee’s latest tale of immigrant striving, American Hagwon. — Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026 To conclude 39 days of human striving, the gate didn’t determine who the game belonged to. — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 20 July 2026 And the striving didn’t stay on the ballfield or in the ring. — Anthony Scaramucci, Fortune, 28 June 2026 Such foolhardy male striving, the movie suggests, is all too often destructive. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 18 May 2026 These towers trace a geography of 21st-century striving, stretching from East Asia to the Gulf and North America. — Karina Acharya, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026 Their presence is an expression of human striving, not political provocation. — Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026 And taken wholesale, both arguments could be enlisted to support more unhealthy striving, less peace on earth. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 4 Feb. 2026 Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City yesterday, taking over one of the most unrelenting jobs in American politics with a promise to transform government on behalf of the city’s striving, struggling working class. — Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026

Verb

Filmed largely on the doctors’ phones, the film offers an intimate account of the people striving to preserve life amid a devastating humanitarian crisis. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026 And those striving for zest under these circumstances may benefit from assistance from a mental health professional like a psychologist, a physical health provider like a physician, or a personal trainer or fitness instructor. — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026 There was a phone booth across the street where striving actors would take calls from their agents, before cell phones. — Sam Kashner, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026 While Indiana and Hoover are striving for perfection as the program aims to defend its national title, TCU is just hoping to score more than two touchdowns against a Power Four opponent. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026 The Monitor revisits three young families striving to live full lives amid Russia’s military invasion. — Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2026 And day by day, play by play, Dunnigan is striving to improve. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026 These steps are consistent with any institution of excellence that is constantly striving for improvement. — ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026 The next year, Varjao and her husband Miguel Salinas opened their own Sea Love franchise of Sea Love in Oak Park and are striving to provide that same calming feeling for the community that Varjao felt during that family outing. — Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for striving

Noun

The journey from the theatrical release to The Final Cut, opening on the twenty‑fifth anniversary of the film in 2007, is akin to the struggle of historians to set the record straight.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
For a team that did not shy away from its Super Bowl expectations during training camp, this is the Cowboys’ chance to prove that the early season struggles were an outlier and that the plan is still in motion.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of struggle

Verb

Tage Thompson had three goals and two assists, Zach Benson added a goal and two assists, and the Buffalo Sabres scored six consecutive goals during a 7-6 victory over the struggling Ducks on Thursday night.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
Even today, with United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin struggling to bring their large Vulcan and New Glenn rockets into service, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets have become a single-point failure for national security launches.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of struggling

Verb

Hertzberg said he’s talked to investors who may be willing to buy these bonds at cheaper rates, given the crushing issue the funding is trying to solve.

— Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
For this week, however, Morris is an evil stepsibling, the 49ers’ defensive coordinator trying to slow down Robinson and the Falcons’ offense.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of trying

Noun

Well, on Monday, Overshown put those doubts to rest by tying for the team lead with six tackles and recording a game-sealing interception in the fourth quarter to thwart a Philadelphia comeback attempt.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
Butker made his next attempt — a 50-yard field goal to cut the Seahawks’ lead to 13-3 late in the third quarter — before missing from 45 yards midway through the fourth.

— Pete Sweeney October 26, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of attempt

Verb

Strange, yes, but definitely more memorable than an accountant in green eyeshade laboring over the books.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
And workers have now spent over 1 million hours laboring on an infrastructure project whose price tag has surpassed $900 million.

— Robert Tann, Denver Post, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of laboring

Verb

Everything has unintended consequences, and attempting to capture these trade-offs across the whole ecosystem — much of which sits outside of a brand’s control — would paralyze even the most proactive nature lead.

— Bella Webb, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
Soliman pleaded guilty to nine federal counts of hate crimes, including one resulting in Diamond’s death and eight for attempting to kill other demonstrators.

— Thomas Peipert, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of attempting

Verb

Still, something unexpected may force you to try a different method, schedule, or approach that ends up working better.

— Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
The association and Special Olympics Illinois are working together so down the road, more Special Olympians will be inducted.

— Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of working

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strives

striving

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Style

“Striving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/striving. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of striving

noun

verb

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