Synonyms of striving

striving 1 of 2

verb

present participle of strive

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

• struggling
• laboring
• working
• endeavoring
• trying
• toiling
• tugging
• hustling
• sweating
• plowing
• straining
• grubbing
• slaving
• digging (away)
• plodding
• humping
• slogging
• banging away
• drudging
• pegging (away)
• plugging
• travailing
• moiling
• fagging
• sweating blood
• applying (oneself)
• attacking
• exerting
• beavering (away)
• buckling (down)
• driving
• exercising
• hammering (away)
• scratching
• essaying
• pitching in
• digging in
• scrabbling
• overworking
• wading
• grinding (out)
• trudging
• eking out
• knuckling down
• overexerting
• putting out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• breaking
• slackening
• easing (up)
• resting
• idling
• shirking
• loafing
• letting up
• lounging
• hanging (around or out)
• chilling
• relaxing
• bumming
• playing
• dallying
• lazing
• basking
• unwinding
• hacking (around)
• slacking (off)
• hanging
• goofing (off)
• reposing
• lolling
• dabbling
• dillydallying
• trifling
• goldbricking
• footling
• doodling
• vegging out
• fooling around
• messing around
• hanging about
• goofing (around)
• puttering (around)
• monkeying (around)
• pottering (around)
• fribbling

2

as in trying

to make an effort to do

let us strive to make the most of this opportunity

Synonyms & Similar Words

• trying
• attempting
• seeking
• endeavoring
• struggling
• shooting for
• essaying
• hoping
• shooting at
• assaying
• working
• aiming
• toiling
• fighting
• having a go at
• aspiring
• trying one's hand (at)
• troubling
• undertaking
• straining
• assuming
• taking up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dropping
• giving up
• quitting

striving

2 of 2

noun

as in struggle

Related Words

• struggle
• attempt
• undertaking
• endeavor
• try
• bid
• offer
• throes
• pass
• go
• essay
• assay
• trial
• stab
• crack
• shot
• bash
• fling
• whack
• whirl
• trial and error

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of striving

Verb

Like Laura bristling at Cherry taking her place by Daniel’s side, Michaela’s fury at Simone’s striving is twofold. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025

Perfectionism often gets misunderstood as an unstoppable striving for excellence, a quality that many of us would love to (half-heartedly) lament. —Caroline Mimbs Nyce, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2025

Noun

The focus is on TV shows, movies and digital content that tell the personal stories of athletes, the emotional stakes of competition and striving for athletic excellence. —Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 12 Sep. 2025

Chronic striving has its downsides, though. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025

The Her actress is striving to preserve her kids' privacy for as long as possible, speaking with InStyle for their March cover story about her choice to keep her kids out of the public eye. —Kayla Grant, People.com, 10 Sep. 2025

The occasion is an event held by the Women’s Coaching Alliance, a group striving to diversify football staffs. —Seth Wickersham, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025

Drown is now striving to be able to flip sleeping clients without waking them up. —Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025

Justice is about striving to create conditions where fairness thrives—where people are treated equitably, decisions are proportionate, and systems account for the unseen forces that shape outcomes. —Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

And remember, perfection in parenting isn’t possible, and striving for that can set you up for failure. —Adrienne Farr, Parents, 5 Sep. 2025

The brand name also serves as a reminder that our journeys are about striving toward something greater than ourselves, even in the face of challenges, according to Reddick. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 26 Aug. 2025