strife
noun
ˈstrīf 
1
a
: bitter sometimes violent conflict or dissension
political strife
b
: an act of contention : fight, struggle
2
: exertion or contention for superiority
3
archaic : earnest endeavor
strifeless
ˈstrī-fləs
adjective 
Synonyms
- conflict
- disaccord
- discord
- discordance
- discordancy
- disharmony
- dissension
- dissention
- dissent
- dissidence
- dissonance
- disunion
- disunity
- division
- friction
- infighting
- inharmony
- schism
- variance
- war
- warfare
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
in order to avoid family strife, the children spend equal time during the holidays with both of their grandmothers bitter strife between the two political factions
Recent Examples on the Web Flight is its own portrait of struggle and strife, and yet a smooth and utterly compelling read. 
Chloe Schama, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2022 Meghan and Harry had stepped down from their positions as working members of the royal family and moved to California, which caused internal strife for the royal family at large. Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 11 Sep. 2022 The lawsuit marks the latest public example of internal strife plaguing the organizations heading the BLM movement, whose leadership has come under great scrutiny in the last two years after the 2020 protests. Orlando Mayorquin, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 With strife brewing in their relationship in the final episode, however, the pair broke up shortly thereafter, leaving Jackson heartbroken. Pamela Chelin, SPIN, 25 Aug. 2022 Oculus Quest 2, for instance, costs $396 in Nairobi, a price too high for a continent undergoing economic strife. Faustine Ngila, Quartz, 24 Aug. 2022 The attacks on Republicans overshadowed lingering internal strife among Democrats over the choice of Hernandez as chair of the state party. Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2022 The last came in 2011 when civil strife in Libya disrupted oil supplies from that country. Stanley Reed, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2021 Hammoud's mother, Ghada Hammoud, arrived in the U.S. in 1974 at the age of 4, her family escaping civil strife in Lebanon. Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 1 Nov. 2021 See More
Chloe Schama, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2022 Meghan and Harry had stepped down from their positions as working members of the royal family and moved to California, which caused internal strife for the royal family at large. Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 11 Sep. 2022 The lawsuit marks the latest public example of internal strife plaguing the organizations heading the BLM movement, whose leadership has come under great scrutiny in the last two years after the 2020 protests. Orlando Mayorquin, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 With strife brewing in their relationship in the final episode, however, the pair broke up shortly thereafter, leaving Jackson heartbroken. Pamela Chelin, SPIN, 25 Aug. 2022 Oculus Quest 2, for instance, costs $396 in Nairobi, a price too high for a continent undergoing economic strife. Faustine Ngila, Quartz, 24 Aug. 2022 The attacks on Republicans overshadowed lingering internal strife among Democrats over the choice of Hernandez as chair of the state party. Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2022 The last came in 2011 when civil strife in Libya disrupted oil supplies from that country. Stanley Reed, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2021 Hammoud's mother, Ghada Hammoud, arrived in the U.S. in 1974 at the age of 4, her family escaping civil strife in Lebanon. Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 1 Nov. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English strif, from Anglo-French estrif, estri, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch striden to fight, Old High German strītan to quarrel — more at stride
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
strife
noun
ˈstrīf
: bitter and sometimes violent disagreement
political strife
strifes
noun
1
as in discords
a lack of agreement or harmony in order to avoid family strife, the children spend equal time during the holidays with both of their grandmothers Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- discords
- frictions
- conflicts
- wars
- schisms
- dissentions
- discordances
- divisions
- warfares
- disputes
- dissensions
- dissents
- clashes
- hostilities
- altercations
- dissonances
- disagreements
- disharmonies
- variances
- contentions
- quarrels
- divides
- arguments
- debates
- fights
- disunities
- discordancies
- inharmonies
- collisions
- bickers
- squabbles
- fissures
- animosities
- antagonisms
- enmities
- brawls
- dissidences
- disunions
- disaccords
- competitions
- infightings
- antipathies
- wrangles
- spats
- tiffs
- incongruities
- inconsistencies
- incompatibilities
- inconsistences
- incongruences
- rancors
- rows
- hassles
- scraps
- fallings-out
- mix-ups
- miffs
- jars
- run-ins
- cold wars
- falling-outs
- ill wills
- inconsonances
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- harmonies
- concordances
- agreements
- concords
- accords
- concurrences
- peaces
- cooperations
2
as in rivalries
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another bitter strife between the two political factions Synonyms & Similar Words
- rivalries
- battles
- struggles
- contentions
- conflicts
- wars
- confrontations
- duels
- competitions
- warfares
- contests
- matches
- clashes
- combats
- dogfights
- grapples
- showdowns
- discords
- disputes
- disputations
- ball games
- tugs-of-war
- sweepstakes
- debates
- face-offs
- quarrels
- sweep-stake
- dissensions
- frictions
- controversies
- dissentions
- disagreements
- collisions
- arguments
- wrangles
- horse races
- nail-biters
- rows
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- harmonies
- concords
- peaces
- desert mouse
- desert palm
- desert pavement
- desert pea
- desert peach
- desert plant
- desert plume
- desert rat
- desert rheumatism
- desert rod
- desert soil
- desert sparrow
- desert sweet
- desert tortoise
- desert trumpet
- desert trumpet flower
- desert varnish
- desert willow
- deserted
- deserter
- deserters
- desertest
- desertic
- deserticolous
- desertification