Synonyms for

Survival

Verb / sɜ:ˈvaɪvʌl / Another word for survival — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

the state or fact of continuing to live or exist, especially in difficult conditions

Synonyms & similar words

naturalselection selection endurance survivalofthefittest endurance persistence resilience tenacity perseverance longevity continuation existence life surviving viability durability robustness strength vigour stamina toughness hardiness firmness

Synonyms by register

Formal

perseverance persistence endurance resilience

Informal

hanging on making it pulling through getting by

Literary

subsistence continuance living on

Antonyms

death demise failure perish destruction extinction loss

Common collocations

  • survival instinct
  • survival rate
  • survival skills
  • survival kit
  • survival of the fittest
  • survival strategy
  • survival depends on
  • survival is key

Word family

noun survival
verb survive
adjective survivable
adverb survivably

Usage note

Survival refers to the act or state of continuing to live or exist. It is often used in contexts of extreme danger or hardship.

Example sentences

  1. Survival skills are important to learn in case of an emergency.
  2. The animals in the zoo depend on humans for their survival.
  3. The survivors of the shipwreck were stranded on a deserted island.
  4. His quick thinking and survival instincts saved him from danger.
  5. The company's survival is dependent on its ability to adapt to new technology.

Quotes

  • Survival is not a privilege, it's a right. - Edward Abbey
  • The will to survive is not as important as the will to prevail... the answer to criminal aggression is retaliation. - Jeff Cooper
  • The survival of the fittest is the ageless law of nature, but the fittest are rarely the strong. The fittest are those endowed with the qualifications for adaptation, the ability to accept the inevitable and conform to the unavoidable, to harmonize with existing or changing conditions. - Dave E. Smalley

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