strive

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

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 strive The couple had strived to live a private life together in their house on Old Sunset Trail Road after withdrawing from Hollywood life in 2004. Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2025 Steady confidence is a honed characteristic the company strives for in all its vehicles, marked by very little pull on the wheel from one side or the other while stopping. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025 Since her first defeat to President Emmanuel Macron in 2017, Le Pen has patiently worked on softening her image, tacking her party towards the political mainstream and striving to appear as a leader-in-waiting rather than a radical anti-system opponent. Elizabeth Pineau and Juliette Jabkhiro, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025 Using methods like that to help farms like theirs become less reliant on chemicals and fertilizers is crucial as the Duchy estate strives to move to a net zero point by 2032. Simon Perry, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for strive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strive
Verb
  • The 25-year-old struggled to impact the game and there was a disconnect between her and Clinton, her United team-mate.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The Royals struggled to pick up his sweeper and slider combination.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Moving forward, is Levantine trying to lean more into commercially viable projects or awards films?
    Matt Minton, Variety, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Larson has spent much of his long tenure in the House trying to protect Social Security.
    Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • With many left homeless by the quake, and many others staying away from their homes because of fears that ongoing aftershocks will bring them down, workers in Naypyidaw labored in the 104 F heat to busily erect big tents in open fields to provide some shelter.
    David Rising, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2025
  • While Lowry labored to a frustrating two-over 74, Walker sailed around a windy TPC Sawgrass with a bogey-free six-under 66 to return to the clubhouse inside the top-10 – four shots behind second round leaders Min Woo Lee and Akshay Bhatia before the duo headed out Saturday.
    Jack Bantock, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • More significantly, his latest actions attempt to cut off a series of alternative routes for Chinese goods to reach American store shelves and households.
    Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Researchers will also attempt to detect patterns of wear on the dagger, which could provide insights into how it was used.
    Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Tan was most recently president of Loewe Asia, and has worked for a host of European luxury brands out of Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo.
    Miles Socha, Footwear News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • By then, Reggie was 31, had graduated college and was working for a pharmaceutical company near San Antonio.
    Paul LaRosa, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Though we are devastated by this loss, each of us in the Eastern District of Virginia will look to her example and endeavor to live up to that standard.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Once the institution opened in 1833 with space for more than 400 veterans, naval officers endeavored to provide a comfortable life for the residents.
    Made by History, TIME, 20 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Strive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strive. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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