VARIANCE Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'variance' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of variance are conflict , contention , discord , dissension , and strife . While all these words mean "a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony," variance implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest. // cultural variances that work against a national identity

Q: In what contexts can 'conflict' take the place of 'variance'?

The meanings of conflict and variance largely overlap; however, conflict usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires. // the conflict of freedom and responsibility

Q: Where would 'contention' be a reasonable alternative to 'variance'?

While the synonyms contention and variance are close in meaning, contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy. // several points of contention about the new zoning law

Q: When is 'discord' a more appropriate choice than 'variance'?

The words discord and variance can be used in similar contexts, but discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism. // a political party long racked by discord

Q: When would 'dissension' be a good substitute for 'variance'?

In some situations, the words dissension and variance are roughly equivalent. However, dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions. // religious dissension threatened to split the colony

Q: When is it sensible to use 'strife' instead of 'variance'?

While in some cases nearly identical to variance , strife emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved. // during his brief reign the empire was never free of civil strife

variance

noun

ˈver-ē-ən(t)s

Definition of variance next

as in friction

a lack of agreement or harmony persistent variance within the rock band eventually caused it to break up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun variance contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of variance are conflict, contention, discord, dissension, and strife. While all these words mean "a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony," variance implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest.

cultural variances that work against a national identity

In what contexts can conflict take the place of variance?

The meanings of conflict and variance largely overlap; however, conflict usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires.

the conflict of freedom and responsibility

Where would contention be a reasonable alternative to variance?

While the synonyms contention and variance are close in meaning, contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy.

several points of contention about the new zoning law

When is discord a more appropriate choice than variance?

The words discord and variance can be used in similar contexts, but discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism.

a political party long racked by discord

When would dissension be a good substitute for variance?

In some situations, the words dissension and variance are roughly equivalent. However, dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions.

religious dissension threatened to split the colony

When is it sensible to use strife instead of variance?

While in some cases nearly identical to variance, strife emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved.

during his brief reign the empire was never free of civil strife

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of variance Then-President Bill Clinton lost to Republican former Sen. Bob Dole in the most rural state by just 13 points, and the correlation between population density and presidential results was weaker, at 0.49 (which accounts for about 24 percent of the variance in results that year). —

G. Elliott Morris, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2024 The board ruled a second time and again denied a variance. —

John Molseed, Twin Cities, 10 Dec. 2024 State of play: The Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals granted LMM a variance to operate the drop-in center. —

Sam Allard, Axios, 6 Dec. 2024 The variance is due to farming methods, feed types, and transportation. —

Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for variance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for variance

Noun

Payers are focused on reducing costs to boost profitability, often leading to friction with healthcare providers who face increasing administrative burdens and diminishing financial returns.

Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
From a shortage of teachers to a surplus Under the Pay Equity Fund, only teachers — not center directors or other administrators — get pay bumps, a point of friction for some.

Andrea Hsu, NPR, 13 Dec. 2024