strife

/straɪf/

/straɪf/

Other forms: strifes

Strife is the act or state of fighting or arguing violently. The years leading up to the U.S. Civil War were characterized by great strife between northern and southern states over slavery and the role of a federal government.

This word applies to major issues and events, such as war and religious conflict: a period of civil strife. Like its Old French source, the original meaning of the English noun strife and the English verb strive had to do with an argument or quarrel. But the verb strive has lost that earlier sense, and now means to try hard to do or achieve something.

Definitions of strife

1. noun

   bitter conflict; heated often violent dissension
   types:

   countercurrent, crosscurrent

   actions counter to the main group activity

   discord, discordance

   strife resulting from a lack of agreement

   type of:

   battle, conflict, struggle

   an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)
2. noun

   lack of agreement or harmony
   synonyms: discord

   type of:

   disorder

   a disturbance of the peace or of public order