1
as in struggling
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
2
as in trying
to make an effort to do
let us strive to make the most of this opportunity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of striving
Karina Acharya, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026
Their presence is an expression of human striving, not political provocation.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
And taken wholesale, both arguments could be enlisted to support more unhealthy striving, less peace on earth.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 4 Feb. 2026
Inevitably, this natural nobility comes into tragic conflict with the order of official power and with the disorder of impoverished striving.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026
Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City yesterday, taking over one of the most unrelenting jobs in American politics with a promise to transform government on behalf of the city’s striving, struggling working class.
—Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City on Thursday, taking over one of the most unrelenting jobs in American politics with a promise to transform government on behalf of the city’s striving, struggling working class.
—Anthony Izaguirre, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2026
Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City on Thursday, taking over one of the most unrelenting jobs in American politics with a promise to transform government on behalf of the city’s striving, struggling working class.
—Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Born in San Francisco in 1916 to a cold and aloof father and a striving, intense mother, McNamara demonstrated from an early age his intellectual prowess and his endless capacity for hard work.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
Through the Daodejing, one of the central texts of Daoism, Laozi offers perspectives from a tumultuous period of status-striving in Chinese history – and shifts our focus from comparison and competition to contentment.
—Stephen Chen, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
Being imaginative and continually striving to improve your craft are two things that are difficult to teach, and both are areas in which Arieonni excels.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
The National Wildlife Federation’s checklist recommends striving for 70% native plants, but doesn’t necessarily require them.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Serbia is striving to balance its partnership with NATO and aspirations to join the European Union with its centuries-old religious, ethnic and political alliance with Russia and strategic ties with China, a major investor.
—Reuters, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
As for the productions themselves, striving for authenticity in casting can be risky.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
In the film, Jonas stars as former boy band star and current striving solo artist Danny (not too much of a stretch for the former Jonas Brothers member and current solo star).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
Helen Mirren costars as Hoskins’ equally striving girlfriend, and the movie is rich with backstabbing, colorful characters.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
These towers trace a geography of 21st-century striving, stretching from East Asia to the Gulf and North America.
—Karina Acharya, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026
Their presence is an expression of human striving, not political provocation.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
And taken wholesale, both arguments could be enlisted to support more unhealthy striving, less peace on earth.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 4 Feb. 2026
Inevitably, this natural nobility comes into tragic conflict with the order of official power and with the disorder of impoverished striving.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026
Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City yesterday, taking over one of the most unrelenting jobs in American politics with a promise to transform government on behalf of the city’s striving, struggling working class.
—Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City on Thursday, taking over one of the most unrelenting jobs in American politics with a promise to transform government on behalf of the city’s striving, struggling working class.
—Anthony Izaguirre, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2026
Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City on Thursday, taking over one of the most unrelenting jobs in American politics with a promise to transform government on behalf of the city’s striving, struggling working class.
—Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Born in San Francisco in 1916 to a cold and aloof father and a striving, intense mother, McNamara demonstrated from an early age his intellectual prowess and his endless capacity for hard work.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Verb
There are the striving, dysfunctional parents, and the politically calculating peers.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
Through the Daodejing, one of the central texts of Daoism, Laozi offers perspectives from a tumultuous period of status-striving in Chinese history – and shifts our focus from comparison and competition to contentment.
—Stephen Chen, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
Being imaginative and continually striving to improve your craft are two things that are difficult to teach, and both are areas in which Arieonni excels.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
The National Wildlife Federation’s checklist recommends striving for 70% native plants, but doesn’t necessarily require them.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Serbia is striving to balance its partnership with NATO and aspirations to join the European Union with its centuries-old religious, ethnic and political alliance with Russia and strategic ties with China, a major investor.
—Reuters, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
As for the productions themselves, striving for authenticity in casting can be risky.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
In the film, Jonas stars as former boy band star and current striving solo artist Danny (not too much of a stretch for the former Jonas Brothers member and current solo star).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
Helen Mirren costars as Hoskins’ equally striving girlfriend, and the movie is rich with backstabbing, colorful characters.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for striving
Noun
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Just two weeks ago, Gary Woodland decided ot shared his struggles with post traumatic stress disorder, brought on after a September 2023 surgery, which involved a baseball-sized hole cut from the side of his head, to remove a brain lesion.—
Andrew McCarty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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And the struggles up front affected what was already troublesome quarterback play after Conner Harrell’s knee injury in Week 4.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the poor quarters of New Delhi, households struggling to pay for gas fired up chulhas, old-school wood-burning stoves, and hoped their tinder supplies held.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Lillibridge says the prices are piling onto an already struggling industry.—
Lana Zak,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Parents, guardians, aunts and uncles don't have time to read every book on the shelf while trying to pick something for the young reader in their life, so here are some simple ways to determine if a book is suitable for that child.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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Wolfe countered that his client was merely trying to settle the case.—
Bri Buckley,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The vote marks the seventh attempt to advance the measure, which needs 60 votes.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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On the ensuing possession, San Diego State’s Naomi Panganiban missed a 3-point attempt and the Jayhawks rebounded the ball.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That took hundreds of people within Apple laboring over technical details like the screen’s lamination and moisture rejection, according to a former Apple engineering leader.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
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Montiel, 62, said Chavez’s legacy continues to reverberate as the union has pushed for improved working conditions for people laboring in extreme heat, at times without adequate breaks or water.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Drawing at least in part on information from Chalker’s defectors, the Pentagon constructed life-size underground facsimiles of Iranian nuclear facilities where the scientists had worked, attempting to duplicate even the thickness of the walls.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Much of the attack was captured on 911 calls made by the relatives, who were attempting to stop Valdez and treat the 83-year-old man’s injuries simultaneously.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But by the time the project—a bigger and more expensive undertaking than expected—was complete, Barrymore’s needs had changed.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
26 Mar. 2026
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But preventing childhood obesity is a complex undertaking.—
Karen Guzman,
Hartford Courant,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And while Harrell continues his rehab, newcomer Cole Gonzales has been working with the first team, along with returner Grayson Loftis, who started seven games last season.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
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One player who’s looking forward to working with Corona is freshman Max DeHoyos.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Striving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/striving. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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