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
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 striving
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2025
Its characters were prodigies who had private tutors and went to training camps for programming competitions, though their striving did not add up to a happy life.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
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
Boris Babic, Fortune, 3 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, first-year head coach Bucky McMillan is striving to win his third straight conference title.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 2 Jan. 2026
Nyad's journey from shore to shore — also immortalized in the 2023 sports drama Nyad starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster — tells the story of a person striving to overcome trauma and achieve greatness at great personal cost.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
The studios and local exhibition are working together to try and reverse this downward trend as everyone is striving toward a healthier overall market.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 2 Jan. 2026
Celebrities have been striving for health in 2025, with many dropping significant amounts of weight — in many cases with the help of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Carruthers was by far the more amiable of the two, striving to seem tractable and reasonable while nevertheless lying flamboyantly.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Most in the league seem to think the Bills, after years of striving for a Super Bowl, are having a hard time staying motivated when the stakes are lower.
—Mike Sando, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
At Miami, that’s supposed to be striving for championships.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
For Veblen, this constant striving was never about the goods themselves.
—Verb
For instance, energy-rich Saudi Arabia is striving to become the third largest AI market in the world, while leading players in France and Israel are pledging to lead in specialized AI applications.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for striving
Noun
-
His struggles are hurting the Broncos in the biggest moments, too.—
-
After all, there are signs that the economy is improving (unemployment and inflation are declining), but after the economic struggles of recent years, and with household debt still high, an additional financing source won't hurt, either.—
Verb
-
However, the technology has been moving faster than state regulations can accommodate, and lawmakers have been struggling to walk the line between innovation and patient safety.—
-
And, for many borrowers struggling with debt, exploring alternatives like debt settlement or consolidation may offer significant relief without the complications that bankruptcy rules can create.—
Verb
-
Witnesses and local leaders have contradicted that claim, saying Good was trying to leave and steering away from the agent.—
-
Imagine trying to build a sturdy wall with bricks that keep floating away into thin air—that’s essentially what happens when cathode material dissolves in a thermal battery.—
Noun
-
The Panthers go for it more than any other team in the playoffs and finished the regular season with the second-most fourth-down attempts in the NFL.—
-
Trump has also repeatedly lashed out over the state’s incarceration of Tina Peters, the former county clerk convicted of state felonies related to her attempts to prove discredited election conspiracies shared by the president.—
Verb
-
That’s right, the Patriot did in two seasons what the Dolphins have been laboring since 2008 to achieve.—
-
Mobley had been laboring to expand his range all offseason, launching thousands of 3s.—
Verb
-
On one hand, some argue that Good was attempting to leave the scene, and a trigger-happy ICE agent fired his weapon at her, an abuse of authority.—
-
Rushing to get on board with your carry-on may seem like a good idea (there’s only so much overhead bin space, after all), but attempting to take shortcuts during the boarding process can actually delay your travels even more.—
Noun
-
But experts worry this audacious undertaking risks fraying the last remaining threads of international norms, emboldening autocracies into new acts of aggression without fear of consequences.—
-
Fed up with Tony’s bellicose style and an unwillingness to meaningfully negotiate, Deerfield Beach would have to start its own police force and fire-rescue service — a major undertaking that will take two years.—
Verb
-
Hardemon, working with Miami City Commission Chairwoman Christine King and CRA Executive Director James McQueen, imagined a future that put Overtown at the center of art and innovation.—
-
Not working with the federal agency is not the response the City of Pittsburgh Republican Committee wanted to hear.—
Cite this Entry
“Striving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/striving. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share