Strive

/ˈstɹaɪv/

Synonyms for "strive" (170 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (34)

Verb(11 words)
endeavor&c. one's nose to the grindstoneapply effortapply oneselfaspireaspiredaspiresattemptattemptedbreak one's backclambers
Noun(6 words)
aimed changeamount of physical forcechasechasesclamberingclawing
Adjective(1 words)

Strong matches (51)

combatcome to blowscompetecontendcontestcut and thrustdare todevotedriveduelendeavoressayexchange blowsfencefeudfightfight a duelfloundergive and takegive satisfaction
Show 10 more words
go all outgrapplegrapple withgrunt and sweathasslehuff and puffintendjostlejoustlabor
Noun(8 words)
drive with effortendeavoringendeavorsexert oneselfexerted forcefightsjostleslaban

Related words (85)

Verb(27 words)
Show 7 more words
Show 25 more words
strive tostrugglestudystudy tosweatsweat bloodthrust and parrytilttoiltourneytravailtrytry andtry hardtry totugtussleundertakeventure towage warwarwelterworkwork atwrestle

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: endeavor, &c. one's nose to the grindstone, agonize, aim, aim to.
  • Sentence evidence is available for strive, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, wiktionary, moby, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "strive".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "strive"

Keep "strive" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "strive" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "strive", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "strive" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

15 entries

More specific

6 entries

Collocations

5 entries
strive for excellencestrive for successstrive to improvestrive to learnstrive toward perfection

Inflections

5 entries

Derivations

2 entries

Sample sentences

18 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

They strive constantly to improve customer relations.

Source: tatoeba (306485)

They had to strive against natural calamities for ages.

Source: tatoeba (307171)

Strive to simplify everything.

Source: tatoeba (675438)

In today's society, the media encourage young people to strive for success.

Source: tatoeba (689486)

Showing 4 of 18 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "strive"?

Closest matches include endeavor, &c. one's nose to the grindstone, agonize, aim, aim to.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "strive"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "strive"