variance

noun

ˈver-ē-ən(t)s How to pronounce variance (audio)
Definition of variancenext
as in friction
a lack of agreement or harmony persistent variance within the rock band eventually caused it to break up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun variance contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of variance are conflict, contention, discord, dissension, and strife. While all these words mean "a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony," variance implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest.

cultural variances that work against a national identity

In what contexts can conflict take the place of variance?

The meanings of conflict and variance largely overlap; however, conflict usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires.

the conflict of freedom and responsibility

Where would contention be a reasonable alternative to variance?

While the synonyms contention and variance are close in meaning, contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy.

several points of contention about the new zoning law

When is discord a more appropriate choice than variance?

The words discord and variance can be used in similar contexts, but discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism.

a political party long racked by discord

When would dissension be a good substitute for variance?

In some situations, the words dissension and variance are roughly equivalent. However, dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions.

religious dissension threatened to split the colony

When is it sensible to use strife instead of variance?

While in some cases nearly identical to variance, strife emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved.

during his brief reign the empire was never free of civil strife

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 variance Goalies are not included due to their outsized fantasy value and wider year-to-year variance. —Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025 Before Tuesday's vote, staff reviewer Michael Weigel noted that the board had received 14 letters of support and 36 from individuals who opposed the variance. —Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025 While some passwords are bad the world over, there are regional variances. —Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025 Because Escapology would welcome customers by appointment only and has franchise data supporting its low demand for parking, city staff supports both the conditional use and parking variance, said Therese Egner, with the planning services team. —Marie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for variance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for variance
  1. friction
  2. discord
  3. discordance
  4. conflict
  5. strife
  6. discordancy
  7. war
  8. dissent
Noun
  • Our brains evolve against friction, which means challenges that are difficult enough to promote growth but not so overwhelming as to cause surrender.
    — Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Nevertheless, the deal appears to address the structural and competitive friction that has complicated the relationship between OpenAI and its largest investor, paving the way for the $500 billion startup to convert its for-profit arm into a public benefit corporation (PBC).
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of friction
Noun
  • Kirk was one of the slate of Republicans who called for more transparency around the Jeffrey Epstein files in a rare moment of discord within the party.
    — Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • However, the pair have had a history of discord.
    — Erica Marrison, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Definition of discord
Noun
  • The sport of off-roading suffers from a fundamental discordance: The desire to get out into nature and the irreparable harm inherent in the process of off-roading.
    — Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 25 July 2025
  • Many of the tunes including sprawling intros and jam sessions, all melded together with discordance, reverb and instrumental solos.
    — Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Definition of discordance
Noun
  • Israel has also bombed Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Yemen in the course of the Gaza conflict.
    — Jarrett Renshaw, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • If both polls and discussions with my friends are anything to go by, Americans feel forever locked in a state of political conflict.
    — Sarah Stein Lubrano, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of conflict
Noun
  • That moment of silence itself soon erupted into House strife, with shouting on the floor.
    — Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Against the backdrop of the golden sand dunes in Ninh Thuan province, family strife boils over when a son’s dream to dance to the beat of his own heart pits him against his father’s wishes.
    — Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of strife
Noun
  • The discordancy is so intriguing — like learning that Katharine Graham went to nude encounter sessions at Esalen, or Alan Greenspan was once in a Lynyrd Skynyrd cover band.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2021
Definition of discordancy
Noun
  • The food industry has weathered trade wars before, but this feels different in its scope and unpredictability.
    — Phil Lempert, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Grain prices have returned to normalcy after the pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war upset supply chains.
    — Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of war
Noun
  • Netanyahu echoed the concern, warning that political violence aimed at silencing dissent undermines democratic values worldwide.
    — Amanda Castro Hannah Parry Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Following her ouster, Comey warned that she was being made an example of in order to quell potential dissent within the DOJ.
    — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of dissent

Phrases Containing variance

Browse Nearby Words

variably
variance
variances
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Cite this Entry

“Variance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/variance. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on variance

Nglish: Translation of variance for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about variance

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