variance

noun

ˈver-ē-ən(t)s How to pronounce variance (audio)
Definition of variancenext
as in friction
a lack of agreement or harmony persistent variance within the rock band eventually caused it to break up

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 The noise variance permit lists a date range from Wednesday through Monday. —Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2024 There was almost no connection between daily physical activity and peak power: step count explained only 3 percent of the variance in peak power. —Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 28 Oct. 2024 Still, the researchers identified significant variance among the species: Black cherry, red maple and white ash tended to experience peak coloration earlier, while oaks and sugar maples blazed later. —Benjamin Cassidy, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Oct. 2024 So high variance means some of these ideas are really bad. —Noam Hassenfeld, Vox, 5 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for variance 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for variance
  1. friction
  2. discord
  3. discordance
  4. conflict
  5. strife
  6. war
  7. dissent
  8. schism
Noun
  • Moments of friction with China spurred India’s search for stronger partnerships.
    Harsh V. Pant, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2024
  • The latter studs the surface of a ball like barnacles to enhance friction, yet the material still spreads thin and even, like toothpaste.
    Evan Bush, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Definition of friction
Noun
  • With a perceptively pro-fossil fuel stance of many in Baku, discord spilled out into the open.
    Gaurav Sharma, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
  • More:Trump says US intel briefed him about how Iran wants to assassinate him to sow discord in US The two men charged in New York also allegedly were recruited to kill an American journalist, Masih Alinejad, a journalist and activist who has criticized Iran's head-covering laws for women.
    Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2024
Definition of discord
Noun
  • Unlike their countrymen in the contemporary tropicalia movement (Gilberto Gil, Os Mutantes), the Minas Gerais musicians favored languid drift and golden melody over genre-busting and discordance, and Lo Borges is as good an album as the moment produced.
    Vulture Editors, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2024
  • The lengthy obituaries detailed my career accomplishments and deep ties to family and friends with the uncanny discordance of an AI bot.
    Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2024
Definition of discordance
Noun
  • As the neighborhood demographics have changed, park usage has often become a point of conflict.
    Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024
  • The attorneys argued that the development conflicts with the city's future planning ordinance, known as the comprehensive plan.
    John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Nov. 2024
Definition of conflict
Noun
  • Content by this author: Afghanistan’s Ethnic Puzzle In 2001, fearing ethnic strife, the international community pushed for a strong central government in Kabul.
    Thomas Barfield, Foreign Affairs, 19 Nov. 2024
  • The official synopsis for Rose’s Lear Rex reads: An aging king decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters to prevent future strife.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
Definition of strife
Noun
  • Firstly, prices for gold and silver have been rising this year, driven by easing inflation, uncertain remarks by the Fed, and geopolitical concerns given the ongoing wars between Russia - Ukraine.
    Trefis Team, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
  • The barb would elicit responses from both Drake and J. Cole, with J. Cole bowing out early, leaving the rhyme war focused squarely on Drake and Kendrick Lamar.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 21 Nov. 2024
Definition of war
Noun
  • Detractors warn of an imminent disaster for government dissent.
    Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 21 Nov. 2024
  • His firing, on the day of the U.S. election, was seen by some Israel watchers as Netanyahu sweeping under the rug a move to weed out dissent in his government.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 11 Nov. 2024
Definition of dissent
Noun
  • As the protests break out and Sadaf gets caught up in them, the schism between the parents and their daughters grows.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2024
  • Roberts received a massive show of support from GOP lawmakers, many of whom are aligned with the Liberty movement, a schism within the Republican party that’s more conservative, Christian-centric, and Libertarian-leaning than the establishment GOP.
    Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 10 Oct. 2024
Definition of schism

Phrases Containing variance

Thesaurus Entries Near variance

variably

variance

variances

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Variance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/variance. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on variance

Nglish: Translation of variance for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of variance for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about variance

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

9 Superb Owl Words

15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
Commonly Confused Words Quiz Vol. 3 Do you have a (flare/flair) for choosing the righ...