What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
strife
Example
The country was torn apart by political strife. [strife: noun]
Example
The team was in strife after losing their star player. [strife: adjective]
struggle
Example
She struggled to lift the heavy box onto the shelf. [struggled: verb]
Example
He had a long struggle with addiction before finally getting clean. [struggle: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Struggle is more commonly used than strife in everyday language. Struggle is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while strife is less common and refers specifically to conflicts or disagreements.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between strife and struggle?
Both strife and struggle can be used in formal and informal contexts, but strife may be considered more formal due to its less frequent usage in everyday language.