Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb strive

2 senses of strive

Sense 1
endeavor, endeavour, strive -- (attempt by employing effort; "we endeavor to make our customers happy")
       => try, seek, attempt, essay, assay -- (make an effort or attempt; "He tried to shake off his fears"; "The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps"; "The police attempted to stop the thief"; "He sought to improve himself"; "She always seeks to do good in the world")

Sense 2
strive, reach, strain -- (to exert much effort or energy; "straining our ears to hear")
       => tug, labor, labour, push, drive -- (strive and make an effort to reach a goal; "She tugged for years to make a decent living"; "We have to push a little to make the deadline!"; "She is driving away at her doctoral thesis")