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strife
/straɪf/
angry or bitter disagreement
The country was torn apart by years of civil strife.
The nation suffered due to prolonged internal conflict.
formal
angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict
The strife between the two factions escalated into violence.
The conflict between the groups became physically aggressive.
Economic strife led to widespread protests in the city.
Financial hardship caused people to demonstrate publicly.
Often implies deep-seated or long-standing conflict, rather than a temporary dispute.
Collocations
civil strifeconflict within a country or between citizensindustrial strifelabor disputes or strikesreligious strifeconflict based on religious differences
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'strive'
'Strife' is a noun meaning conflict, while 'strive' is a verb meaning to make great efforts. They sound similar but have different meanings and spellings.
Gold Rule
Use 'strife' for serious conflict
Reserve 'strife' for situations involving deep, often violent disagreement between groups or nations. It is not suitable for minor disagreements.
Word Origin
Middle English 'strif' (quarrel), from Old French 'estrif' (quarrel, dispute), of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch 'strijd' (contest, battle).
Usage Notes
Strife typically refers to serious, often prolonged conflict, often with violent or hostile undertones. It is more intense than 'disagreement' or 'argument' and carries a formal tone.
English Dictionary