The closest strive synonym in plain English is try hard; in formal writing it is endeavor. For goals, aim and aspire work well, and for hard battles, struggle and fight carry the effort. Strive sits between them: it means steady, serious effort toward something worth having.
Below is another word for strive in three senses, the patterns it takes (to, for, against), its past forms, and words to use in mission statements and résumés.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
try hard, endeavor, aim, work hardPart of speech
VerbPast forms
strove or strived; striven or strivedMost formal
endeavor, exert yourselfMost casual
go all out, give it your allAntonyms
give up, quit, slack offWatch out
Aspire is about wanting; strive is about working. You can aspire and still do nothing.
Strive to, strive for, strive against
| Pattern | Swaps that keep the grammar | Example |
|---|---|---|
| strive to do | try hard to, endeavor to, aim to | We strive to reply within two working days. |
| strive for something | aim for, work toward, pursue | She strives for accuracy. |
| strive against something | struggle against, fight, battle | They strove against the flood. |
Pursue needs its object right after it: pursue a goal, never pursue for a goal. Endeavor works only with to: endeavor to improve.
Strength of each strive synonym
Every chip to the right adds a little more sweat. Aim names the goal with modest effort. Try hard adds clear effort. Push suggests pressing past tiredness or doubt. Struggle admits that it is difficult, and fight adds an opponent or obstacle. Strive itself sits near try hard but sounds more dignified.
Swaps in real sentences
- I strive to be on time becomes I make every effort to be on time.
- The school strives for excellence becomes the school aims for excellence.
- We strive to keep prices low becomes we work hard to keep prices low.
- He strove to finish the race becomes he pushed to finish the race.
- Communities striving against poverty becomes communities battling poverty.
A note to a teammate: "I will strive to send it by Friday." It sounds a bit grand for a small job. "I will do my best to send it by Friday" is friendlier and just as committed.
Strove or strived?
Both past forms are correct. Strove and striven are traditional and still common in writing. Strived is newer and frequent in American speech. Pick one and stay with it in a document. The -ing form, striving, swaps with working toward, trying or pushing: always striving to improve becomes always working to improve.
For mission statements and résumés
Strive is popular in company values (we strive to...), but readers see it often. A concrete verb can feel stronger: we answer every message within one day beats we strive to respond quickly. On a résumé, swap strive for what you did: achieved, delivered, improved, raised. See achieve synonyms and the action verbs hub.
Close words with a different meaning
Attempt is a single try and can fail at once; strive is ongoing. Aspire is the wish, not the work. Thrive looks similar but means to grow well or do very well, so it is a result rather than an effort. Seek means to look for, which only works with goals: seek approval, seek a solution.
Opposites of strive
Give up and quit are the clearest antonyms. Slack off and coast mean doing less than you could. Neglect is formal for not giving something the effort it needs, and surrender or yield mean ending a struggle.
- After the first loss, the team coasted.
- Do not give up on the project yet.
Frequently asked questions
Which words mean the same as strive?
Try hard, endeavor and work hard are the closest. Aim and aspire fit when the goal matters more than the effort.
Which strive synonym sounds most formal?
Endeavor is the most formal. Use it with to: we endeavor to reply promptly.
Is strive the same as thrive?
No. Strive means to try hard, while thrive means to do well or grow strongly. You strive so that you can thrive.
Should I write strove or strived?
Strove is the traditional past and striven the past participle. Strived is also accepted for both, especially in American English.
What should replace strive on a résumé?
Swap in a result verb such as achieved, improved, delivered or led. Show the outcome instead of the effort.
Which words are the opposite of strive?
Give up, quit and slack off are the main antonyms. Coast means to do the minimum.