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

Example 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 On Wednesday, city councilors will discuss four variance requests, reduced from the six previously discussed by the Zoning and Planning Commission. —Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 11 July 2025 The council also agreed to a variance in landscaping requirements for the project. —Karen Sorensen, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2025 Professional framers typically carry a selection of mat colors, and there’s often variance in texture, too. —Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2025 Rethinking The Pipeline Starts Here Managers account for as much as 70 percent of the variance in team engagement and performance. —Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025 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
  • The common thread is technology that removes friction, creates visibility and adapts to changing needs.
    — Alaa Pasha, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • For sure, this can prove too sanguine and perhaps there will be unanticipated economic friction ahead.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 12 July 2025
Definition of friction
Noun
  • For more than six decades, the treaty survived the subcontinental wars and discord but has come under significant strain after India suspended its participation in the treaty after the April terrorist attack in Kashmir.
    — Sam Dalrymple, Time, 14 July 2025
  • This should involve respectful discord, finding a shared vision and moving forward with trust.
    — James Barlow, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Definition of discord
Noun
  • Many of the tunes including sprawling intros and jam sessions, all melded together with discordance, reverb and instrumental solos.
    — Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
  • Luckily, director Kate Dumoulin helps smooth over much of the discordance.
    — Matthew J. Palm, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 June 2025
Definition of discordance
Noun
  • These negotiations come at a particularly fraught moment, following a 12-day conflict triggered by Israeli attacks on Iranian targets.
    — Amir Daftari Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
  • More than 130,000 people have been evacuated from conflict areas in Thailand, where the death toll rose to 15 as of early Friday, 14 of those civilians, according to the health ministry.
    — Shoon Naing, USA Today, 25 July 2025
Definition of conflict
Noun
  • In seeking reelection in 2022, Evers said the pandemic measures that divided the state were worth the strife.
    — Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
  • Later, Hjorth’s sister published her own novelization of their family strife.
    — The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 23 July 2025
Definition of strife
Noun
  • The cumulative effect of crises on top of crises — from war, to daily explosions suspected to be sabotage, to skyrocketing inflation, to water and power cuts — has many Iranians reeling.
    — Leily Nikounazar Arash Khamooshi, New York Times, 26 July 2025
  • The team behind 20 Days In Mariupol documents the toll of the Russia-Ukraine war from a personal and devastating vantage point.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 25 July 2025
Definition of war
Noun
  • With the three liberal justices in dissent, the court on Monday paused an order from U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston, who issued a preliminary injunction reversing the layoffs and calling into question the broader plan.
    — Mark Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • The three liberal justices opposed the order, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor writing in dissent.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2025
Definition of dissent
Noun
  • National pride, in the past decade, has seen a clear schism between parties.
    — Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 30 June 2025
  • However, a schism emerged between Republican lawmakers during the budget debates in Congress.
    — Drew Kurlowski, The Conversation, 25 June 2025
Definition of schism

Phrases Containing variance

Browse Nearby Words

variably
variance
variances
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Variance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/variance. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on variance

Nglish: Translation of variance for Spanish 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 More

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

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

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Popular

See More

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

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All