1
as in to try
to make an effort to do
let us strive to make the most of this opportunity
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to struggle
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strive
Typically, when a plant population spreads to an area that lacks its usual pollinators, the plant will strive to adapt, evolving so that it can be pollinated by local wildlife instead.
—
Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
The 57-year-old now strives for something even more elusive and meaningful than success in the nation’s top baseball conference.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
The contradictions of his time, of his life, speaking uncomfortably at the lectern, writing imperfect manifestos, suffering personal losses, standing in the open doorway of the hut on Walden Pond, holding grief, listening for deeper currents, and striving to love more.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Should experimental artists still strive to draw clear lines between their own work and the commercial operations of advertising?
—Michael Cowan, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strive
Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
The 57-year-old now strives for something even more elusive and meaningful than success in the nation’s top baseball conference.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
The contradictions of his time, of his life, speaking uncomfortably at the lectern, writing imperfect manifestos, suffering personal losses, standing in the open doorway of the hut on Walden Pond, holding grief, listening for deeper currents, and striving to love more.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Should experimental artists still strive to draw clear lines between their own work and the commercial operations of advertising?
—Michael Cowan, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strive
Verb
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Duren shoved Diabate’s face, and despite people on both sides trying to alleviate the tension, the usually mild-mannered Diabate kept trying to find Duren again.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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The intelligence reports warn that 764 and its many offshoots have expanded into a transnational, online network that glorifies violence and tries to coerce people, often minors, to hurt themselves or others.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Engineers have struggled to close the reaction gap between human perception and machine processing without sacrificing accuracy.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
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De Meo was recruited from the auto industry, and his experience included turning around the struggling automaker Renault at the start of the decade.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In an indictment Thursday, federal prosecutors said Kevin Taylor attempted to steer an $11 million contract toward the company, SaferWatch, while serving as the commanding officer of the department's School Safety Division.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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Lewis, who played for the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns, was charged in 2004 for attempting to set up a drug deal.—
Sarah Davis,
The Hill,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When the novel opens in Florence, in 1557, the body of the painter Jacopo da Pontormo lies in the chapel of San Lorenzo—in front of the frescoes he’d labored over for a decade, with a painter’s chisel stuck in his heart.—
Bekah Waalkes,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2026
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Johnson labored through a tender calf, cramping and fatigue.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And my initial job and focus was working for the chief digital officer at the time who was a really smart guy.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
14 Feb. 2026
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But its last shutdown plan, released in late September, indicates that 91% of its employees would continue to work without pay.—
Riley Beggin,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One month later, Turning Point’s flagship conference descended into recriminations over the very controversies and conspiracies that its founder had endeavored so assiduously to suppress.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
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Beyond endeavoring to sleep and also muscle through the day while the sun is bright overhead, the most challenging part for Mehta was the first day of sled pulling when her team moved from Vinson Base Camp to Low Camp.—
Wendy Altschuler,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strive. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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