as in frictions
a lack of agreement or harmony
persistent variance within the rock band eventually caused it to break up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 variances
The Porter County Board of Zoning Appeals considered several requests for zoning variances for the project Thursday.
—
Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
These variances can be attributed in part to the fact that there are 31 types of widows, five in the United States.
—Eva Flowe
may 28, Charlotte Observer, 28 May 2026
Such variances can come into play whenever the strict application of community guidelines would cause undue hardship, and directors may also consider conditional approvals that require additional safeguards and modifications.
—Nicole R. Kurtz, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
Those areas did, however, feature variances in local magnetic fields, humidity, and lighting levels, suggesting that such sensations are simply people responding to normal environmental factors.
—ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2026
But some of the variances were relatively small, and far from evidence of excessive caution, slightly conservative forecasts like these are a best fiscal practice.
—Marc Joffe, Daily News, 13 Apr. 2026
With gas prices averaging more than $4 per gallon, drivers are wondering what causes price variances at the pump from state to state.
—Keith Laing, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Any significant variances were analyzed in detail and projected through the end of the fiscal year.
—Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
This is due to wide variances in the efficiency of the gas-collection systems, according to the report.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
These variances can be attributed in part to the fact that there are 31 types of widows, five in the United States.
—Eva Flowe
may 28, Charlotte Observer, 28 May 2026
Such variances can come into play whenever the strict application of community guidelines would cause undue hardship, and directors may also consider conditional approvals that require additional safeguards and modifications.
—Nicole R. Kurtz, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
Those areas did, however, feature variances in local magnetic fields, humidity, and lighting levels, suggesting that such sensations are simply people responding to normal environmental factors.
—ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2026
But some of the variances were relatively small, and far from evidence of excessive caution, slightly conservative forecasts like these are a best fiscal practice.
—Marc Joffe, Daily News, 13 Apr. 2026
With gas prices averaging more than $4 per gallon, drivers are wondering what causes price variances at the pump from state to state.
—Keith Laing, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Any significant variances were analyzed in detail and projected through the end of the fiscal year.
—Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
This is due to wide variances in the efficiency of the gas-collection systems, according to the report.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for variances
Noun
-
Tensions between Rian and Patrick flare when Rian drunkenly mentions a brief fling with Shiv, though the film’s clunky edit, which gives little room for the performances to breathe and play out organically within their contexts, makes these frictions feel stilted and juvenile.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
22 May 2026
-
Outcomes announced so far also spotlight where daylight and frictions continue to exist.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Your dedicated Slack channels, private discords and endless Reddit threads.—
April Uchitel,
Flow Space,
6 Aug. 2025
-
In every case, physical science, which is based on the evidence reported by these limited and limiting senses, eventually leaves us stranded with the conviction that sickness, accidents, and disasters – discords of every description, regardless of the apparent cause – are real and inevitable.—
Lisa Rennie Sytsma,
Christian Science Monitor,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
Its Acadian, Creole and maritime narratives reveal how global conflicts and local landscapes shaped the Gulf South.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
That new reality is the result of Iran’s relentless efforts to link the fate of both conflicts, and of the increasingly diverging priorities of the US president and the Israeli prime minister.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
As the country heads toward a national election, the leader once celebrated as a healer is now viewed by critics as the main driver of these schisms.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
-
Given the schisms, some in the GOP believe only a single party-line bill may end up passing before November.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These conflicts included wars between Russia and Ukraine and between Iran and Israel; and disputes between India and Pakistan.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
9 June 2026
-
Today’s gerrymandering wars are nothing other than an attempt by both parties to predetermine the outcome of elections.—
Frederic J. Fransen,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Racial divisions around the case have propelled it to the national forefront, drawing the attention of both right-wing agitators and civil rights organizations.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
6 June 2026
-
As the current amnesty law was drafted, the country's deep sectarian divisions were clear in the legislature.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
But the decision prompted dissents from three policymakers who objected to language in the post-meeting statement suggesting the Fed could eventually resume rate cuts.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
20 May 2026
-
In dissents from Monday's order, Jackson pointed out the high court's ruling in the Callais case did not address the legal question of Section 2's enforceability by private individuals and groups.—
Hansi Lo Wang,
NPR,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
His brief tenure was characterized by disputes with the president over North Korea, Iran and Ukraine.—
Eric Tucker,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
Community associations have found themselves in the spotlight recently with headlines about rising maintenance fees, contentious board decisions, and disputes between residents and leadership.—
Niurys Robaina,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Variances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/variances. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
