Definition

Noun: 1. Bitter conflict; heated, often violent dissension: A state of serious disagreement, argument, or fighting, typically prolonged and involving strong, angry feelings. 2. Lack of agreement or harmony: A condition of discord or disharmony between people or groups.

Usage and Examples

• Describing social or political conflict:
  • The period was marked by intense political strife.
  • The proposal caused great strife within the community.
• Describing personal conflict or discord:
  • There has been constant strife between the two brothers over the inheritance.
  • She wanted to avoid any further strife in the family.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Internal strife": Conflict or discord within a group, organization, or country.
  • The company's failure was due more to internal strife than to market conditions.
• "Industrial strife": Conflict between employers and employees, such as strikes or lockouts.
  • The new law was designed to reduce industrial strife.
• "To be at strife": (A somewhat formal or literary phrase) To be in a state of conflict with someone or something.
  • The neighboring kingdoms were perpetually at strife.

Variants and Related Words

• Strife-torn (adj): Severely affected or damaged by conflict.
  • Aid workers entered the strife-torn region.
• Strife-ridden (adj): Filled with or characterized by strife.
  • The strife-ridden history of the territory.

Synonyms

• Conflict: A serious disagreement or argument.
• Discord: Disagreement between people.
• Friction: Conflict or animosity caused by a clash of wills, temperaments, or opinions.
• Turmoil: A state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty.
• Wrangling: Engagement in a long, complicated dispute or argument.

Antonyms

• Harmony: The state of being in agreement or concord.
• Peace: Freedom from disturbance; tranquility.
• Accord: Agreement or harmony.
• Concord: A state of agreement or harmony.

Idioms and Phrases

• "Stir up strife": To cause or provoke conflict and disagreement.
  • The controversial article was accused of stirring up strife.
• "The fires of strife": (A literary idiom) The intense and destructive nature of conflict.
  • He hoped his speech would quench the fires of strife.

Noun

1. bitter conflict; heated often violent dissension
2. lack of agreement or harmony