diff --git a/lib/internal/assert/assertion_error.js b/lib/internal/assert/assertion_error.js
index 2f222a3d85ebf9..ee376899d04d35 100644
--- a/lib/internal/assert/assertion_error.js
+++ b/lib/internal/assert/assertion_error.js
@@ -3,29 +3,23 @@
 const {
   ArrayPrototypeJoin,
   ArrayPrototypePop,
+  ArrayPrototypeSlice,
   Error,
   ErrorCaptureStackTrace,
-  MathMax,
   ObjectAssign,
   ObjectDefineProperty,
   ObjectGetPrototypeOf,
   String,
-  StringPrototypeEndsWith,
   StringPrototypeRepeat,
   StringPrototypeSlice,
   StringPrototypeSplit,
 } = primordials;
 
 const { inspect } = require('internal/util/inspect');
-const {
-  removeColors,
-} = require('internal/util');
 const colors = require('internal/util/colors');
-const {
-  validateObject,
-} = require('internal/validators');
+const { validateObject } = require('internal/validators');
 const { isErrorStackTraceLimitWritable } = require('internal/errors');
-
+const { myersDiff, printMyersDiff, printSimpleMyersDiff } = require('internal/assert/myers_diff');
 
 const kReadableOperator = {
   deepStrictEqual: 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:',
@@ -41,272 +35,174 @@ const kReadableOperator = {
   notDeepEqualUnequal: 'Expected values not to be loosely deep-equal:',
 };
 
-// Comparing short primitives should just show === / !== instead of using the
-// diff.
-const kMaxShortLength = 12;
+const kMaxShortStringLength = 12;
+const kMaxLongStringLength = 512;
 
 function copyError(source) {
-  const target = ObjectAssign({ __proto__: ObjectGetPrototypeOf(source) }, source);
-  ObjectDefineProperty(target, 'message', { __proto__: null, value: source.message });
+  const target = ObjectAssign(
+    { __proto__: ObjectGetPrototypeOf(source) },
+    source,
+  );
+  ObjectDefineProperty(target, 'message', {
+    __proto__: null,
+    value: source.message,
+  });
   return target;
 }
 
 function inspectValue(val) {
   // The util.inspect default values could be changed. This makes sure the
   // error messages contain the necessary information nevertheless.
-  return inspect(
-    val,
-    {
-      compact: false,
-      customInspect: false,
-      depth: 1000,
-      maxArrayLength: Infinity,
-      // Assert compares only enumerable properties (with a few exceptions).
-      showHidden: false,
-      // Assert does not detect proxies currently.
-      showProxy: false,
-      sorted: true,
-      // Inspect getters as we also check them when comparing entries.
-      getters: true,
-    },
-  );
+  return inspect(val, {
+    compact: false,
+    customInspect: false,
+    depth: 1000,
+    maxArrayLength: Infinity,
+    // Assert compares only enumerable properties (with a few exceptions).
+    showHidden: false,
+    // Assert does not detect proxies currently.
+    showProxy: false,
+    sorted: true,
+    // Inspect getters as we also check them when comparing entries.
+    getters: true,
+  });
 }
 
 function getErrorMessage(operator, message) {
   return message || kReadableOperator[operator];
 }
 
-function createErrDiff(actual, expected, operator, message = '') {
-  let other = '';
-  let res = '';
-  let end = '';
-  let skipped = false;
-  const actualInspected = inspectValue(actual);
-  const actualLines = StringPrototypeSplit(actualInspected, '\n');
-  const expectedLines = StringPrototypeSplit(inspectValue(expected), '\n');
-
-  let i = 0;
-  let indicator = '';
-
+function checkOperator(actual, expected, operator) {
   // In case both values are objects or functions explicitly mark them as not
   // reference equal for the `strictEqual` operator.
-  if (operator === 'strictEqual' &&
-      ((typeof actual === 'object' && actual !== null &&
-        typeof expected === 'object' && expected !== null) ||
-       (typeof actual === 'function' && typeof expected === 'function'))) {
+  if (
+    operator === 'strictEqual' &&
+    ((typeof actual === 'object' &&
+      actual !== null &&
+      typeof expected === 'object' &&
+      expected !== null) ||
+      (typeof actual === 'function' && typeof expected === 'function'))
+  ) {
     operator = 'strictEqualObject';
   }
 
-  // If "actual" and "expected" fit on a single line and they are not strictly
-  // equal, check further special handling.
-  if (actualLines.length === 1 && expectedLines.length === 1 &&
-    actualLines[0] !== expectedLines[0]) {
-    // Check for the visible length using the `removeColors()` function, if
-    // appropriate.
-    const c = inspect.defaultOptions.colors;
-    const actualRaw = c ? removeColors(actualLines[0]) : actualLines[0];
-    const expectedRaw = c ? removeColors(expectedLines[0]) : expectedLines[0];
-    const inputLength = actualRaw.length + expectedRaw.length;
-    // If the character length of "actual" and "expected" together is less than
-    // kMaxShortLength and if neither is an object and at least one of them is
-    // not `zero`, use the strict equal comparison to visualize the output.
-    if (inputLength <= kMaxShortLength) {
-      if ((typeof actual !== 'object' || actual === null) &&
-          (typeof expected !== 'object' || expected === null) &&
-          (actual !== 0 || expected !== 0)) { // -0 === +0
-        return `${getErrorMessage(operator, message)}\n\n` +
-            `${actualLines[0]} !== ${expectedLines[0]}\n`;
-      }
-    } else if (operator !== 'strictEqualObject') {
-      // If the stderr is a tty and the input length is lower than the current
-      // columns per line, add a mismatch indicator below the output. If it is
-      // not a tty, use a default value of 80 characters.
-      const maxLength = process.stderr.isTTY ? process.stderr.columns : 80;
-      if (inputLength < maxLength) {
-        while (actualRaw[i] === expectedRaw[i]) {
-          i++;
-        }
-        // Ignore the first characters.
-        if (i > 2) {
-          // Add position indicator for the first mismatch in case it is a
-          // single line and the input length is less than the column length.
-          indicator = `\n  ${StringPrototypeRepeat(' ', i)}^`;
-          i = 0;
+  return operator;
+}
+
+function getColoredMyersDiff(actual, expected) {
+  const header = `${colors.green}actual${colors.white} ${colors.red}expected${colors.white}`;
+  const skipped = false;
+
+  const diff = myersDiff(StringPrototypeSplit(actual, ''), StringPrototypeSplit(expected, ''));
+  let message = printSimpleMyersDiff(diff);
+
+  if (skipped) {
+    message += '...';
+  }
+
+  return { message, header, skipped };
+}
+
+function getStackedDiff(actual, expected) {
+  const isStringComparison = typeof actual === 'string' && typeof expected === 'string';
+
+  let message = `\n${colors.green}+${colors.white} ${actual}\n${colors.red}- ${colors.white}${expected}`;
+  const stringsLen = actual.length + expected.length;
+  const maxTerminalLength = process.stderr.isTTY ? process.stderr.columns : 80;
+  const showIndicator = isStringComparison && (stringsLen <= maxTerminalLength);
+
+  if (showIndicator) {
+    let indicatorIdx = -1;
+
+    for (let i = 0; i < actual.length; i++) {
+      if (actual[i] !== expected[i]) {
+        // Skip the indicator for the first 2 characters because the diff is immediately apparent
+        // It is 3 instead of 2 to account for the quotes
+        if (i >= 3) {
+          indicatorIdx = i;
         }
+        break;
       }
     }
-  }
 
-  // Remove all ending lines that match (this optimizes the output for
-  // readability by reducing the number of total changed lines).
-  let a = actualLines[actualLines.length - 1];
-  let b = expectedLines[expectedLines.length - 1];
-  while (a === b) {
-    if (i++ < 3) {
-      end = `\n  ${a}${end}`;
-    } else {
-      other = a;
+    if (indicatorIdx !== -1) {
+      message += `\n${StringPrototypeRepeat(' ', indicatorIdx + 2)}^`;
     }
-    ArrayPrototypePop(actualLines);
-    ArrayPrototypePop(expectedLines);
-    if (actualLines.length === 0 || expectedLines.length === 0)
-      break;
-    a = actualLines[actualLines.length - 1];
-    b = expectedLines[expectedLines.length - 1];
   }
 
-  const maxLines = MathMax(actualLines.length, expectedLines.length);
-  // Strict equal with identical objects that are not identical by reference.
-  // E.g., assert.deepStrictEqual({ a: Symbol() }, { a: Symbol() })
-  if (maxLines === 0) {
-    // We have to get the result again. The lines were all removed before.
-    const actualLines = StringPrototypeSplit(actualInspected, '\n');
-
-    // Only remove lines in case it makes sense to collapse those.
-    // TODO: Accept env to always show the full error.
-    if (actualLines.length > 50) {
-      actualLines[46] = `${colors.blue}...${colors.white}`;
-      while (actualLines.length > 47) {
-        ArrayPrototypePop(actualLines);
-      }
-    }
+  return { message };
+}
 
-    return `${kReadableOperator.notIdentical}\n\n` +
-           `${ArrayPrototypeJoin(actualLines, '\n')}\n`;
+function getSimpleDiff(originalActual, actual, originalExpected, expected) {
+  const stringsLen = actual.length + expected.length;
+  if (stringsLen <= kMaxShortStringLength && (originalActual !== 0 || originalExpected !== 0)) {
+    return { message: `${actual} !== ${expected}`, header: '' };
   }
 
-  // There were at least five identical lines at the end. Mark a couple of
-  // skipped.
-  if (i >= 5) {
-    end = `\n${colors.blue}...${colors.white}${end}`;
-    skipped = true;
-  }
-  if (other !== '') {
-    end = `\n  ${other}${end}`;
-    other = '';
+  const isStringComparison = typeof originalActual === 'string' && typeof originalExpected === 'string';
+  // colored myers diff
+  if (isStringComparison && colors.hasColors) {
+    return getColoredMyersDiff(actual, expected);
   }
 
-  let printedLines = 0;
-  let identical = 0;
-  const msg = `${getErrorMessage(operator, message)}\n${colors.green}+ actual${colors.white} ${colors.red}- expected${colors.white}`;
-  const skippedMsg = ` ${colors.blue}...${colors.white} Lines skipped`;
-
-  let lines = actualLines;
-  let plusMinus = `${colors.green}+${colors.white}`;
-  let maxLength = expectedLines.length;
-  if (actualLines.length < maxLines) {
-    lines = expectedLines;
-    plusMinus = `${colors.red}-${colors.white}`;
-    maxLength = actualLines.length;
+  return getStackedDiff(actual, expected);
+}
+
+function isSimpleDiff(actual, inspectedActual, expected, inspectedExpected) {
+  if (inspectedActual.length > 1 || inspectedExpected.length > 1) {
+    return false;
   }
 
-  for (i = 0; i < maxLines; i++) {
-    if (maxLength < i + 1) {
-      // If more than two former lines are identical, print them. Collapse them
-      // in case more than five lines were identical.
-      if (identical > 2) {
-        if (identical > 3) {
-          if (identical > 4) {
-            if (identical === 5) {
-              res += `\n  ${lines[i - 3]}`;
-              printedLines++;
-            } else {
-              res += `\n${colors.blue}...${colors.white}`;
-              skipped = true;
-            }
-          }
-          res += `\n  ${lines[i - 2]}`;
-          printedLines++;
-        }
-        res += `\n  ${lines[i - 1]}`;
-        printedLines++;
-      }
-      // No identical lines before.
-      identical = 0;
-      // Add the expected line to the cache.
-      if (lines === actualLines) {
-        res += `\n${plusMinus} ${lines[i]}`;
-      } else {
-        other += `\n${plusMinus} ${lines[i]}`;
-      }
-      printedLines++;
-    // Only extra actual lines exist
-    // Lines diverge
+  return typeof actual !== 'object' || actual === null || typeof expected !== 'object' || expected === null;
+}
+
+function createErrDiff(actual, expected, operator, customMessage) {
+  operator = checkOperator(actual, expected, operator);
+
+  let skipped = false;
+  let message = '';
+  const inspectedActual = inspectValue(actual);
+  const inspectedExpected = inspectValue(expected);
+  const inspectedSplitActual = StringPrototypeSplit(inspectedActual, '\n');
+  const inspectedSplitExpected = StringPrototypeSplit(inspectedExpected, '\n');
+  const showSimpleDiff = isSimpleDiff(actual, inspectedSplitActual, expected, inspectedSplitExpected);
+  let header = `${colors.green}+ actual${colors.white} ${colors.red}- expected${colors.white}`;
+
+  if (showSimpleDiff) {
+    const simpleDiff = getSimpleDiff(actual, inspectedSplitActual[0], expected, inspectedSplitExpected[0]);
+    message = simpleDiff.message;
+    if (typeof simpleDiff.header !== 'undefined') {
+      header = simpleDiff.header;
+    }
+    if (simpleDiff.skipped) {
+      skipped = true;
+    }
+  } else if (inspectedActual === inspectedExpected) {
+    // Handles the case where the objects are structurally the same but different references
+    operator = 'notIdentical';
+    if (inspectedSplitActual.length > 50) {
+      message = `${ArrayPrototypeJoin(ArrayPrototypeSlice(inspectedSplitActual, 0, 50), '\n')}\n...}`;
+      skipped = true;
     } else {
-      const expectedLine = expectedLines[i];
-      let actualLine = actualLines[i];
-      // If the lines diverge, specifically check for lines that only diverge by
-      // a trailing comma. In that case it is actually identical and we should
-      // mark it as such.
-      let divergingLines =
-        actualLine !== expectedLine &&
-        (!StringPrototypeEndsWith(actualLine, ',') ||
-         StringPrototypeSlice(actualLine, 0, -1) !== expectedLine);
-      // If the expected line has a trailing comma but is otherwise identical,
-      // add a comma at the end of the actual line. Otherwise the output could
-      // look weird as in:
-      //
-      //   [
-      //     1         // No comma at the end!
-      // +   2
-      //   ]
-      //
-      if (divergingLines &&
-          StringPrototypeEndsWith(expectedLine, ',') &&
-          StringPrototypeSlice(expectedLine, 0, -1) === actualLine) {
-        divergingLines = false;
-        actualLine += ',';
-      }
-      if (divergingLines) {
-        // If more than two former lines are identical, print them. Collapse
-        // them in case more than five lines were identical.
-        if (identical > 2) {
-          if (identical > 3) {
-            if (identical > 4) {
-              if (identical === 5) {
-                res += `\n  ${actualLines[i - 3]}`;
-                printedLines++;
-              } else {
-                res += `\n${colors.blue}...${colors.white}`;
-                skipped = true;
-              }
-            }
-            res += `\n  ${actualLines[i - 2]}`;
-            printedLines++;
-          }
-          res += `\n  ${actualLines[i - 1]}`;
-          printedLines++;
-        }
-        // No identical lines before.
-        identical = 0;
-        // Add the actual line to the result and cache the expected diverging
-        // line so consecutive diverging lines show up as +++--- and not +-+-+-.
-        res += `\n${colors.green}+${colors.white} ${actualLine}`;
-        other += `\n${colors.red}-${colors.white} ${expectedLine}`;
-        printedLines += 2;
-      // Lines are identical
-      } else {
-        // Add all cached information to the result before adding other things
-        // and reset the cache.
-        res += other;
-        other = '';
-        identical++;
-        // The very first identical line since the last diverging line is be
-        // added to the result.
-        if (identical <= 2) {
-          res += `\n  ${actualLine}`;
-          printedLines++;
-        }
-      }
+      message = ArrayPrototypeJoin(inspectedSplitActual, '\n');
     }
-    // Inspected object to big (Show ~50 rows max)
-    if (printedLines > 50 && i < maxLines - 2) {
-      return `${msg}${skippedMsg}\n${res}\n${colors.blue}...${colors.white}${other}\n` +
-             `${colors.blue}...${colors.white}`;
+    header = '';
+  } else {
+    const checkCommaDisparity = actual != null && typeof actual === 'object';
+    const diff = myersDiff(inspectedSplitActual, inspectedSplitExpected, checkCommaDisparity);
+
+    const myersDiffMessage = printMyersDiff(diff);
+    message = myersDiffMessage.message;
+
+    if (myersDiffMessage.skipped) {
+      skipped = true;
     }
   }
 
-  return `${msg}${skipped ? skippedMsg : ''}\n${res}${other}${end}${indicator}`;
+  const headerMessage = `${getErrorMessage(operator, customMessage)}\n${header}`;
+  const skippedMessage = skipped ? '\n... Skipped lines' : '';
+
+  return `${headerMessage}${skippedMessage}\n${message}\n`;
 }
 
 function addEllipsis(string) {
@@ -314,8 +210,8 @@ function addEllipsis(string) {
   if (lines.length > 10) {
     lines.length = 10;
     return `${ArrayPrototypeJoin(lines, '\n')}\n...`;
-  } else if (string.length > 512) {
-    return `${StringPrototypeSlice(string, 512)}...`;
+  } else if (string.length > kMaxLongStringLength) {
+    return `${StringPrototypeSlice(string, kMaxLongStringLength)}...`;
   }
   return string;
 }
@@ -361,7 +257,7 @@ class AssertionError extends Error {
       }
 
       if (operator === 'deepStrictEqual' || operator === 'strictEqual') {
-        super(createErrDiff(actual, expected, operator));
+        super(createErrDiff(actual, expected, operator, message));
       } else if (operator === 'notDeepStrictEqual' ||
         operator === 'notStrictEqual') {
         // In case the objects are equal but the operator requires unequal, show
@@ -403,10 +299,10 @@ class AssertionError extends Error {
           }
           super(res);
         } else {
-          if (res.length > 512) {
+          if (res.length > kMaxLongStringLength) {
             res = `${StringPrototypeSlice(res, 0, 509)}...`;
           }
-          if (other.length > 512) {
+          if (other.length > kMaxLongStringLength) {
             other = `${StringPrototypeSlice(other, 0, 509)}...`;
           }
           if (operator === 'deepEqual') {
diff --git a/lib/internal/assert/myers_diff.js b/lib/internal/assert/myers_diff.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..8893ff78d7c2a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/internal/assert/myers_diff.js
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const {
+  Array,
+  ArrayPrototypeFill,
+  ArrayPrototypePush,
+  ArrayPrototypeSlice,
+  StringPrototypeEndsWith,
+} = primordials;
+
+const colors = require('internal/util/colors');
+
+const kNopLinesToCollapse = 5;
+
+function areLinesEqual(actual, expected, checkCommaDisparity) {
+  if (actual === expected) {
+    return true;
+  }
+  if (checkCommaDisparity) {
+    return `${actual},` === expected || actual === `${expected},`;
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
+function myersDiff(actual, expected, checkCommaDisparity = false) {
+  const actualLength = actual.length;
+  const expectedLength = expected.length;
+  const max = actualLength + expectedLength;
+  const v = ArrayPrototypeFill(Array(2 * max + 1), 0);
+
+  const trace = [];
+
+  for (let diffLevel = 0; diffLevel <= max; diffLevel++) {
+    const newTrace = ArrayPrototypeSlice(v);
+    ArrayPrototypePush(trace, newTrace);
+
+    for (let diagonalIndex = -diffLevel; diagonalIndex <= diffLevel; diagonalIndex += 2) {
+      let x;
+      if (diagonalIndex === -diffLevel ||
+        (diagonalIndex !== diffLevel && v[diagonalIndex - 1 + max] < v[diagonalIndex + 1 + max])) {
+        x = v[diagonalIndex + 1 + max];
+      } else {
+        x = v[diagonalIndex - 1 + max] + 1;
+      }
+
+      let y = x - diagonalIndex;
+
+      while (x < actualLength && y < expectedLength && areLinesEqual(actual[x], expected[y], checkCommaDisparity)) {
+        x++;
+        y++;
+      }
+
+      v[diagonalIndex + max] = x;
+
+      if (x >= actualLength && y >= expectedLength) {
+        return backtrack(trace, actual, expected, checkCommaDisparity);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function backtrack(trace, actual, expected, checkCommaDisparity) {
+  const actualLength = actual.length;
+  const expectedLength = expected.length;
+  const max = actualLength + expectedLength;
+
+  let x = actualLength;
+  let y = expectedLength;
+  const result = [];
+
+  for (let diffLevel = trace.length - 1; diffLevel >= 0; diffLevel--) {
+    const v = trace[diffLevel];
+    const diagonalIndex = x - y;
+    let prevDiagonalIndex;
+
+    if (diagonalIndex === -diffLevel ||
+      (diagonalIndex !== diffLevel && v[diagonalIndex - 1 + max] < v[diagonalIndex + 1 + max])) {
+      prevDiagonalIndex = diagonalIndex + 1;
+    } else {
+      prevDiagonalIndex = diagonalIndex - 1;
+    }
+
+    const prevX = v[prevDiagonalIndex + max];
+    const prevY = prevX - prevDiagonalIndex;
+
+    while (x > prevX && y > prevY) {
+      const value = !checkCommaDisparity ||
+        StringPrototypeEndsWith(actual[x - 1], ',') ? actual[x - 1] : expected[y - 1];
+      ArrayPrototypePush(result, { __proto__: null, type: 'nop', value });
+      x--;
+      y--;
+    }
+
+    if (diffLevel > 0) {
+      if (x > prevX) {
+        ArrayPrototypePush(result, { __proto__: null, type: 'insert', value: actual[x - 1] });
+        x--;
+      } else {
+        ArrayPrototypePush(result, { __proto__: null, type: 'delete', value: expected[y - 1] });
+        y--;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  return result;
+}
+
+function printSimpleMyersDiff(diff) {
+  let message = '';
+
+  for (let diffIdx = diff.length - 1; diffIdx >= 0; diffIdx--) {
+    const { type, value } = diff[diffIdx];
+    if (type === 'insert') {
+      message += `${colors.green}${value}${colors.white}`;
+    } else if (type === 'delete') {
+      message += `${colors.red}${value}${colors.white}`;
+    } else {
+      message += `${colors.white}${value}${colors.white}`;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return `\n${message}`;
+}
+
+function printMyersDiff(diff, simple = false) {
+  let message = '';
+  let skipped = false;
+  let nopCount = 0;
+
+  for (let diffIdx = diff.length - 1; diffIdx >= 0; diffIdx--) {
+    const { type, value } = diff[diffIdx];
+    const previousType = (diffIdx < (diff.length - 1)) ? diff[diffIdx + 1].type : null;
+    const typeChanged = previousType && (type !== previousType);
+
+    if (typeChanged && previousType === 'nop') {
+      // Avoid grouping if only one line would have been grouped otherwise
+      if (nopCount === kNopLinesToCollapse + 1) {
+        message += `${colors.white}  ${diff[diffIdx + 1].value}\n`;
+      } else if (nopCount === kNopLinesToCollapse + 2) {
+        message += `${colors.white}  ${diff[diffIdx + 2].value}\n`;
+        message += `${colors.white}  ${diff[diffIdx + 1].value}\n`;
+      } if (nopCount >= (kNopLinesToCollapse + 3)) {
+        message += `${colors.blue}...${colors.white}\n`;
+        message += `${colors.white}  ${diff[diffIdx + 1].value}\n`;
+        skipped = true;
+      }
+      nopCount = 0;
+    }
+
+    if (type === 'insert') {
+      message += `${colors.green}+${colors.white} ${value}\n`;
+    } else if (type === 'delete') {
+      message += `${colors.red}-${colors.white} ${value}\n`;
+    } else if (type === 'nop') {
+      if (nopCount < kNopLinesToCollapse) {
+        message += `${colors.white}  ${value}\n`;
+      }
+      nopCount++;
+    }
+  }
+
+  message = message.trimEnd();
+
+  return { message: `\n${message}`, skipped };
+}
+
+module.exports = { myersDiff, printMyersDiff, printSimpleMyersDiff };
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-assert-checktag.js b/test/parallel/test-assert-checktag.js
index 7ea12b89d75127..7587939436f40d 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-assert-checktag.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-assert-checktag.js
@@ -29,14 +29,20 @@ test('', { skip: !hasCrypto }, () => {
       () => assert.deepStrictEqual(date, fake),
       {
         message: 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
-                '+ actual - expected\n\n+ 2016-01-01T00:00:00.000Z\n- Date {}'
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '+ 2016-01-01T00:00:00.000Z\n' +
+        '- Date {}\n'
       }
     );
     assert.throws(
       () => assert.deepStrictEqual(fake, date),
       {
         message: 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
-                '+ actual - expected\n\n+ Date {}\n- 2016-01-01T00:00:00.000Z'
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '+ Date {}\n' +
+        '- 2016-01-01T00:00:00.000Z\n'
       }
     );
   }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-assert-deep.js b/test/parallel/test-assert-deep.js
index a83a9e3329e5e4..aeacd21a21f029 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-assert-deep.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-assert-deep.js
@@ -70,9 +70,16 @@ test('deepEqual', () => {
     () => assert.deepStrictEqual(arr, buf),
     {
       code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
-      message: `${defaultMsgStartFull} ... Lines skipped\n\n` +
-              '+ Uint8Array(4) [\n' +
-              '- Buffer(4) [Uint8Array] [\n    120,\n...\n    122,\n    10\n  ]'
+      message: 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '+ Uint8Array(4) [\n' +
+        '- Buffer(4) [Uint8Array] [\n' +
+        '    120,\n' +
+        '    121,\n' +
+        '    122,\n' +
+        '    10\n' +
+        '  ]\n'
     }
   );
   assert.deepEqual(arr, buf);
@@ -92,7 +99,7 @@ test('deepEqual', () => {
                 '    122,\n' +
                 '    10,\n' +
                 '+   prop: 1\n' +
-                '  ]'
+                '  ]\n'
       }
     );
     assert.notDeepEqual(buf2, buf);
@@ -112,7 +119,7 @@ test('deepEqual', () => {
                 '    122,\n' +
                 '    10,\n' +
                 '-   prop: 5\n' +
-                '  ]'
+                '  ]\n'
       }
     );
     assert.notDeepEqual(arr, arr2);
@@ -127,7 +134,7 @@ test('date', () => {
       code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
       message: `${defaultMsgStartFull}\n\n` +
               '+ 2016-01-01T00:00:00.000Z\n- MyDate 2016-01-01T00:00:00.000Z' +
-              " {\n-   '0': '1'\n- }"
+              " {\n-   '0': '1'\n- }\n"
     }
   );
   assert.throws(
@@ -136,7 +143,7 @@ test('date', () => {
       code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
       message: `${defaultMsgStartFull}\n\n` +
               '+ MyDate 2016-01-01T00:00:00.000Z {\n' +
-              "+   '0': '1'\n+ }\n- 2016-01-01T00:00:00.000Z"
+              "+   '0': '1'\n+ }\n- 2016-01-01T00:00:00.000Z\n"
     }
   );
 });
@@ -151,7 +158,7 @@ test('regexp', () => {
     {
       code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
       message: `${defaultMsgStartFull}\n\n` +
-              "+ /test/\n- MyRegExp /test/ {\n-   '0': '1'\n- }"
+              "+ /test/\n- MyRegExp /test/ {\n-   '0': '1'\n- }\n"
     }
   );
 });
@@ -474,7 +481,7 @@ test('es6 Maps and Sets', () => {
       {
         code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
         message: `${defaultMsgStartFull}\n\n` +
-                 "  Map(1) {\n+   1 => 1\n-   1 => '1'\n  }"
+                 "  Map(1) {\n+   1 => 1\n-   1 => '1'\n  }\n"
       }
     );
   }
@@ -846,35 +853,55 @@ test('Additional tests', () => {
     {
       code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
       name: 'AssertionError',
-      message: `${defaultMsgStartFull}\n\n+ /ab/\n- /a/`
+      message: 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '+ /ab/\n' +
+        '- /a/\n'
     });
   assert.throws(
     () => assert.deepStrictEqual(/a/g, /a/),
     {
       code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
       name: 'AssertionError',
-      message: `${defaultMsgStartFull}\n\n+ /a/g\n- /a/`
+      message: 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '+ /a/g\n' +
+        '- /a/\n'
     });
   assert.throws(
     () => assert.deepStrictEqual(/a/i, /a/),
     {
       code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
       name: 'AssertionError',
-      message: `${defaultMsgStartFull}\n\n+ /a/i\n- /a/`
+      message: 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '+ /a/i\n' +
+        '- /a/\n'
     });
   assert.throws(
     () => assert.deepStrictEqual(/a/m, /a/),
     {
       code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
       name: 'AssertionError',
-      message: `${defaultMsgStartFull}\n\n+ /a/m\n- /a/`
+      message: 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '+ /a/m\n' +
+        '- /a/\n'
     });
   assert.throws(
     () => assert.deepStrictEqual(/aa/igm, /aa/im),
     {
       code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
       name: 'AssertionError',
-      message: `${defaultMsgStartFull}\n\n+ /aa/gim\n- /aa/im\n      ^`
+      message: 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '+ /aa/gim\n' +
+        '- /aa/im\n'
     });
 
   {
@@ -909,7 +936,7 @@ test('Having the same number of owned properties && the same set of keys', () =>
                 {
                   code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
                   name: 'AssertionError',
-                  message: `${defaultMsgStartFull}\n\n  [\n+   4\n-   '4'\n  ]`
+                  message: `${defaultMsgStartFull}\n\n  [\n+   4\n-   '4'\n  ]\n`
                 });
   assert.throws(
     () => assert.deepStrictEqual({ a: 4 }, { a: 4, b: true }),
@@ -917,7 +944,7 @@ test('Having the same number of owned properties && the same set of keys', () =>
       code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
       name: 'AssertionError',
       message: `${defaultMsgStartFull}\n\n  ` +
-              '{\n    a: 4,\n-   b: true\n  }'
+              '{\n    a: 4,\n-   b: true\n  }\n'
     });
   assert.throws(
     () => assert.deepStrictEqual(['a'], { 0: 'a' }),
@@ -925,7 +952,7 @@ test('Having the same number of owned properties && the same set of keys', () =>
       code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
       name: 'AssertionError',
       message: `${defaultMsgStartFull}\n\n` +
-              "+ [\n+   'a'\n+ ]\n- {\n-   '0': 'a'\n- }"
+              "+ [\n+   'a'\n+ ]\n- {\n-   '0': 'a'\n- }\n"
     });
 });
 
@@ -964,25 +991,25 @@ test('Check extra properties on errors', () => {
       () => assert.deepStrictEqual(a, b),
       {
         operator: 'throws',
-        message: `${defaultMsgStartFull}\n\n` +
-                '  [TypeError: foo] {\n+   foo: \'bar\'\n-   foo: \'baz\'\n  }',
+        message: '',
       }
     ),
     {
       message: 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
-        '+ actual - expected ... Lines skipped\n' +
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
         '\n' +
         '  Comparison {\n' +
-        "    message: 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\\n' +\n" +
-        '...\n' +
-        "      '  [TypeError: foo] {\\n' +\n" +
-        "      \"+   foo: 'bar'\\n\" +\n" +
-        "+     \"-   foo: 'baz.'\\n\" +\n" +
-        "-     \"-   foo: 'baz'\\n\" +\n" +
-        "      '  }',\n" +
+        "+   message: 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\\n' +\n" +
+        "+     '+ actual - expected\\n' +\n" +
+        "+     '\\n' +\n" +
+        "+     '  [TypeError: foo] {\\n' +\n" +
+        `+     "+   foo: 'bar'\\n" +\n` +
+        `+     "-   foo: 'baz.'\\n" +\n` +
+        "+     '  }\\n',\n" +
         "+   operator: 'deepStrictEqual'\n" +
+        "-   message: '',\n" +
         "-   operator: 'throws'\n" +
-        '  }'
+        '  }\n'
     }
   );
 });
@@ -995,7 +1022,7 @@ test('Check proxies', () => {
   assert.throws(
     () => assert.deepStrictEqual(arrProxy, [1, 2, 3]),
     { message: `${defaultMsgStartFull}\n\n` +
-               '  [\n    1,\n    2,\n-   3\n  ]' }
+               '  [\n    1,\n    2,\n-   3\n  ]\n' }
   );
   util.inspect.defaultOptions = tmp;
 
@@ -1052,7 +1079,7 @@ test('Basic array out of bounds check', () => {
               '    1,\n' +
               '    2,\n' +
               '+   3\n' +
-              '  ]'
+              '  ]\n'
     }
   );
 });
@@ -1347,6 +1374,107 @@ test('Comparing two different WeakSet instances', () => {
   assertNotDeepOrStrict(weakSet1, weakSet2);
 });
 
+test('Comparing two arrays nested inside object, with overlapping elements', () => {
+  const actual = { a: { b: [1, 2, 3] } };
+  const expected = { a: { b: [3, 4, 5] } };
+
+  assert.throws(
+    () => assert.deepStrictEqual(actual, expected),
+    {
+      code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+      name: 'AssertionError',
+      message: 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '  {\n' +
+        '    a: {\n' +
+        '      b: [\n' +
+        '+       1,\n' +
+        '+       2,\n' +
+        '        3,\n' +
+        '-       4,\n' +
+        '-       5\n' +
+        '      ]\n' +
+        '    }\n' +
+        '  }\n'
+    }
+  );
+});
+
+test('Comparing two arrays nested inside object, with overlapping elements, swapping keys', () => {
+  const actual = { a: { b: [1, 2, 3], c: 2 } };
+  const expected = { a: { b: 1, c: [3, 4, 5] } };
+
+  assert.throws(
+    () => assert.deepStrictEqual(actual, expected),
+    {
+      code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+      name: 'AssertionError',
+      message: 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '  {\n' +
+        '    a: {\n' +
+        '+     b: [\n' +
+        '+       1,\n' +
+        '+       2,\n' +
+        '-     b: 1,\n' +
+        '-     c: [\n' +
+        '        3,\n' +
+        '-       4,\n' +
+        '-       5\n' +
+        '      ],\n' +
+        '+     c: 2\n' +
+        '    }\n' +
+        '  }\n'
+    }
+  );
+});
+
+test('Detects differences in deeply nested arrays instead of seeing a new object', () => {
+  const actual = [
+    { a: 1 },
+    2,
+    3,
+    4,
+    { c: [1, 2, 3] },
+  ];
+  const expected = [
+    { a: 1 },
+    2,
+    3,
+    4,
+    { c: [3, 4, 5] },
+  ];
+
+  assert.throws(
+    () => assert.deepStrictEqual(actual, expected),
+    {
+      code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+      name: 'AssertionError',
+      message: 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
+      '+ actual - expected\n' +
+      '... Skipped lines\n' +
+      '\n' +
+      '  [\n' +
+      '    {\n' +
+      '      a: 1\n' +
+      '    },\n' +
+      '    2,\n' +
+      '...\n' +
+      '      c: [\n' +
+      '+       1,\n' +
+      '+       2,\n' +
+      '        3,\n' +
+      '-       4,\n' +
+      '-       5\n' +
+      '      ]\n' +
+      '    }\n' +
+      '  ]\n'
+    }
+  );
+});
+
 // check URL
 {
   const a = new URL('http://foo');
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-assert.js b/test/parallel/test-assert.js
index 0197ebf543a3cb..4a6420779a845e 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-assert.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-assert.js
@@ -30,8 +30,9 @@ const vm = require('vm');
 // Disable colored output to prevent color codes from breaking assertion
 // message comparisons. This should only be an issue when process.stdout
 // is a TTY.
-if (process.stdout.isTTY)
+if (process.stdout.isTTY) {
   process.env.NODE_DISABLE_COLORS = '1';
+}
 
 const strictEqualMessageStart = 'Expected values to be strictly equal:\n';
 const start = 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:';
@@ -277,8 +278,10 @@ test('assert.throws()', () => {
       code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
       name: 'AssertionError',
       message: 'Expected "actual" to be reference-equal to "expected":\n' +
-              '+ actual - expected\n\n' +
-              '+ [Error: foo]\n- [Error: foobar]'
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '+ [Error: foo]\n' +
+        '- [Error: foobar]\n'
     }
   );
 });
@@ -342,15 +345,21 @@ test('Test assertion messages', () => {
       () => assert.strictEqual(actual, ''),
       {
         generatedMessage: true,
-        message: msg || strictEqualMessageStart +
-                `+ actual - expected\n\n+ ${expected}\n- ''`
+        message: msg || `Expected values to be strictly equal:\n\n${expected} !== ''\n`
       }
     );
   }
 
+  function testLongAssertionMessage(actual, expected) {
+    testAssertionMessage(actual, expected, 'Expected values to be strictly equal:\n' +
+          '+ actual - expected\n' +
+          '\n' +
+          `+ ${expected}\n` +
+          "- ''\n");
+  }
+
   function testShortAssertionMessage(actual, expected) {
-    testAssertionMessage(actual, expected, strictEqualMessageStart +
-                                          `\n${inspect(actual)} !== ''\n`);
+    testAssertionMessage(actual, expected, strictEqualMessageStart + `\n${inspect(actual)} !== ''\n`);
   }
 
   testShortAssertionMessage(null, 'null');
@@ -359,31 +368,86 @@ test('Test assertion messages', () => {
   testShortAssertionMessage(100, '100');
   testShortAssertionMessage(NaN, 'NaN');
   testShortAssertionMessage(Infinity, 'Infinity');
-  testShortAssertionMessage('a', '"a"');
+  testShortAssertionMessage('a', '\'a\'');
   testShortAssertionMessage('foo', '\'foo\'');
   testShortAssertionMessage(0, '0');
   testShortAssertionMessage(Symbol(), 'Symbol()');
   testShortAssertionMessage(undefined, 'undefined');
   testShortAssertionMessage(-Infinity, '-Infinity');
-  testAssertionMessage([], '[]');
+  testShortAssertionMessage([], '[]');
+  testShortAssertionMessage({}, '{}');
   testAssertionMessage(/a/, '/a/');
   testAssertionMessage(/abc/gim, '/abc/gim');
-  testAssertionMessage({}, '{}');
-  testAssertionMessage([1, 2, 3], '[\n+   1,\n+   2,\n+   3\n+ ]');
-  testAssertionMessage(function f() {}, '[Function: f]');
-  testAssertionMessage(function() {}, '[Function (anonymous)]');
-  testAssertionMessage(circular,
-                       '<ref *1> {\n+   x: [Circular *1],\n+   y: 1\n+ }');
-  testAssertionMessage({ a: undefined, b: null },
-                       '{\n+   a: undefined,\n+   b: null\n+ }');
-  testAssertionMessage({ a: NaN, b: Infinity, c: -Infinity },
-                       '{\n+   a: NaN,\n+   b: Infinity,\n+   c: -Infinity\n+ }');
+  testLongAssertionMessage(function f() {}, '[Function: f]');
+  testLongAssertionMessage(function() {}, '[Function (anonymous)]');
+
+  assert.throws(
+    () => assert.strictEqual([1, 2, 3], ''),
+    {
+      message: 'Expected values to be strictly equal:\n' +
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '+ [\n' +
+        '+   1,\n' +
+        '+   2,\n' +
+        '+   3\n' +
+        '+ ]\n' +
+        "- ''\n",
+      generatedMessage: true
+    }
+  );
+
+  assert.throws(
+    () => assert.strictEqual(circular, ''),
+    {
+      message: 'Expected values to be strictly equal:\n' +
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '+ <ref *1> {\n' +
+        '+   x: [Circular *1],\n' +
+        '+   y: 1\n' +
+        '+ }\n' +
+        "- ''\n",
+      generatedMessage: true
+    }
+  );
+
+  assert.throws(
+    () => assert.strictEqual({ a: undefined, b: null }, ''),
+    {
+      message: 'Expected values to be strictly equal:\n' +
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '+ {\n' +
+        '+   a: undefined,\n' +
+        '+   b: null\n' +
+        '+ }\n' +
+        "- ''\n",
+      generatedMessage: true
+    }
+  );
+
+  assert.throws(
+    () => assert.strictEqual({ a: NaN, b: Infinity, c: -Infinity }, ''),
+    {
+      message: 'Expected values to be strictly equal:\n' +
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '+ {\n' +
+        '+   a: NaN,\n' +
+        '+   b: Infinity,\n' +
+        '+   c: -Infinity\n' +
+        '+ }\n' +
+        "- ''\n",
+      generatedMessage: true
+    }
+  );
 
   // https://github.com/nodejs/node-v0.x-archive/issues/5292
   assert.throws(
     () => assert.strictEqual(1, 2),
     {
-      message: `${strictEqualMessageStart}\n1 !== 2\n`,
+      message: 'Expected values to be strictly equal:\n\n1 !== 2\n',
       generatedMessage: true
     }
   );
@@ -472,7 +536,7 @@ test('Long values should be truncated for display', () => {
     assert.strictEqual(err.code, 'ERR_ASSERTION');
     assert.strictEqual(err.message,
                        `${strictEqualMessageStart}+ actual - expected\n\n` +
-                      `+ '${'A'.repeat(1000)}'\n- ''`);
+                      `+ '${'A'.repeat(1000)}'\n- ''\n`);
     assert.strictEqual(err.actual.length, 1000);
     assert.ok(inspect(err).includes(`actual: '${'A'.repeat(488)}...'`));
     return true;
@@ -485,7 +549,7 @@ test('Output that extends beyond 10 lines should also be truncated for display',
     assert.strictEqual(multilineString, '');
   }, (err) => {
     assert.strictEqual(err.code, 'ERR_ASSERTION');
-    assert.strictEqual(err.message.split('\n').length, 19);
+    assert.strictEqual(err.message.split('\n').length, 20);
     assert.strictEqual(err.actual.split('\n').length, 16);
     assert.ok(inspect(err).includes(
       "actual: 'fhqwhgads\\n' +\n" +
@@ -566,84 +630,117 @@ test('Test strict assert', () => {
   Error.stackTraceLimit = tmpLimit;
 
   // Test error diffs.
-  let message = [
-    start,
-    `${actExp} ... Lines skipped`,
-    '',
-    '  [',
-    '    [',
-    '      [',
-    '        1,',
-    '        2,',
-    '+       3',
-    "-       '3'",
-    '      ]',
-    '...',
-    '    4,',
-    '    5',
-    '  ]'].join('\n');
+  let message = 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
+    '+ actual - expected\n' +
+    '\n' +
+    '  [\n' +
+    '    [\n' +
+    '      [\n' +
+    '        1,\n' +
+    '        2,\n' +
+    '+       3\n' +
+    "-       '3'\n" +
+    '      ]\n' +
+    '    ],\n' +
+    '    4,\n' +
+    '    5\n' +
+    '  ]\n';
   strict.throws(
     () => strict.deepEqual([[[1, 2, 3]], 4, 5], [[[1, 2, '3']], 4, 5]),
     { message });
 
-  message = [
-    start,
-    `${actExp} ... Lines skipped`,
-    '',
-    '  [',
-    '    1,',
-    '...',
-    '    1,',
-    '    0,',
-    '-   1,',
-    '    1,',
-    '...',
-    '    1,',
-    '    1',
-    '  ]',
-  ].join('\n');
+  message = 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
+    '+ actual - expected\n' +
+    '... Skipped lines\n' +
+    '\n' +
+    '  [\n' +
+    '    1,\n' +
+    '    1,\n' +
+    '    1,\n' +
+    '    0,\n' +
+    '...\n' +
+    '    1,\n' +
+    '+   1\n' +
+    '  ]\n';
   strict.throws(
     () => strict.deepEqual(
-      [1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1],
-      [1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1]),
+      [1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1],
+      [1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1]),
     { message });
 
-  message = [
-    start,
-    `${actExp} ... Lines skipped`,
-    '',
-    '  [',
-    '    1,',
-    '...',
-    '    1,',
-    '    0,',
-    '+   1,',
-    '    1,',
-    '    1,',
-    '    1',
-    '  ]',
-  ].join('\n');
-  strict.throws(
-    () => strict.deepEqual(
-      [1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1],
-      [1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1]),
-    { message });
+  message = 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '  [\n' +
+        '    1,\n' +
+        '    2,\n' +
+        '    3,\n' +
+        '    4,\n' +
+        '    5,\n' +
+        '+   6,\n' +
+        '-   9,\n' +
+        '    7\n' +
+        '  ]\n';
 
-  message = [
-    start,
-    actExp,
-    '',
-    '  [',
-    '    1,',
-    '+   2,',
-    '-   1,',
-    '    1,',
-    '    1,',
-    '    0,',
-    '+   1,',
-    '    1',
-    '  ]',
-  ].join('\n');
+  assert.throws(
+    () => assert.deepStrictEqual([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7], [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 7]),
+    { message }
+  );
+
+  message = 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '  [\n' +
+        '    1,\n' +
+        '    2,\n' +
+        '    3,\n' +
+        '    4,\n' +
+        '    5,\n' +
+        '    6,\n' +
+        '+   7,\n' +
+        '-   9,\n' +
+        '    8\n' +
+        '  ]\n';
+
+  assert.throws(
+    () => assert.deepStrictEqual([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8], [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 8]),
+    { message }
+  );
+
+  message = 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '... Skipped lines\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '  [\n' +
+        '    1,\n' +
+        '    2,\n' +
+        '    3,\n' +
+        '    4,\n' +
+        '...\n' +
+        '    7,\n' +
+        '+   8,\n' +
+        '-   0,\n' +
+        '    9\n' +
+        '  ]\n';
+
+  assert.throws(
+    () => assert.deepStrictEqual([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9], [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 0, 9]),
+    { message }
+  );
+
+  message = 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
+    '+ actual - expected\n' +
+    '\n' +
+    '  [\n' +
+    '    1,\n' +
+    '+   2,\n' +
+    '    1,\n' +
+    '    1,\n' +
+    '-   1,\n' +
+    '    0,\n' +
+    '    1,\n' +
+    '+   1\n' +
+    '  ]\n';
   strict.throws(
     () => strict.deepEqual(
       [1, 2, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1],
@@ -659,7 +756,7 @@ test('Test strict assert', () => {
     '+   2,',
     '+   1',
     '+ ]',
-    '- undefined',
+    '- undefined\n',
   ].join('\n');
   strict.throws(
     () => strict.deepEqual([1, 2, 1], undefined),
@@ -673,22 +770,25 @@ test('Test strict assert', () => {
     '+   1,',
     '    2,',
     '    1',
-    '  ]',
+    '  ]\n',
   ].join('\n');
   strict.throws(
     () => strict.deepEqual([1, 2, 1], [2, 1]),
     { message });
 
-  message = `${start}\n` +
-    `${actExp} ... Lines skipped\n` +
-    '\n' +
-    '  [\n' +
-    '+   1,\n'.repeat(25) +
-    '...\n' +
-    '-   2,\n'.repeat(25) +
-    '...';
+  message = 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
+  '+ actual - expected\n' +
+      '\n' +
+      '  [\n' +
+      '+   1,\n'.repeat(10) +
+      '+   3\n' +
+      '-   2,\n'.repeat(11) +
+      '-   4,\n' +
+      '-   4,\n' +
+      '-   4\n' +
+      '  ]\n';
   strict.throws(
-    () => strict.deepEqual(Array(28).fill(1), Array(28).fill(2)),
+    () => strict.deepEqual([1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 3], [2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 4, 4, 4]),
     { message });
 
   const obj1 = {};
@@ -703,7 +803,7 @@ test('Test strict assert', () => {
     '- {\n' +
     '-   [Symbol(nodejs.util.inspect.custom)]: [Function (anonymous)],\n' +
     "-   loop: 'forever'\n" +
-    '- }'
+    '- }\n'
   });
 
   // notDeepEqual tests
@@ -823,7 +923,7 @@ test('Additional asserts', () => {
         '+ actual - expected\n' +
         '\n' +
         "+ 'string'\n" +
-        '- false'
+        '- false\n'
     }
   );
 
@@ -839,7 +939,7 @@ test('Additional asserts', () => {
         '+ actual - expected\n' +
         '\n' +
         "+ 'string'\n" +
-        '- false'
+        '- false\n'
     }
   );
 
@@ -855,7 +955,7 @@ test('Additional asserts', () => {
       '+ actual - expected\n' +
       '\n' +
       "+ 'string'\n" +
-      '- false'
+      '- false\n'
     }
   );
   /* eslint-enable @stylistic/js/indent */
@@ -1008,7 +1108,7 @@ test('Throws accepts objects', () => {
                '-   foo: undefined,\n' +
                "    message: 'Wrong value',\n" +
                "    name: 'TypeError'\n" +
-               '  }'
+               '  }\n'
     }
   );
 
@@ -1026,7 +1126,7 @@ test('Throws accepts objects', () => {
                '-   foo: undefined,\n' +
                "    message: 'Wrong value',\n" +
                "    name: 'TypeError'\n" +
-               '  }'
+               '  }\n'
     }
   );
 
@@ -1060,7 +1160,7 @@ test('Throws accepts objects', () => {
                "    message: 'e',\n" +
                "+   name: 'TypeError'\n" +
                "-   name: 'Error'\n" +
-               '  }'
+               '  }\n'
     }
   );
   assert.throws(
@@ -1074,7 +1174,7 @@ test('Throws accepts objects', () => {
                "+   message: 'foo',\n" +
                "-   message: '',\n" +
                "    name: 'Error'\n" +
-               '  }'
+               '  }\n'
     }
   );
 
@@ -1142,7 +1242,7 @@ test('Additional assert', () => {
       {
         message: 'Expected "actual" to be reference-equal to "expected":\n' +
                 '+ actual - expected\n\n' +
-                "+ [Arguments] {\n- {\n    '0': 'a'\n  }"
+                "+ [Arguments] {\n- {\n    '0': 'a'\n  }\n"
       }
     );
   }
@@ -1169,7 +1269,7 @@ test('Additional assert', () => {
               "+   message: 'foobar',\n" +
               '-   message: /fooa/,\n' +
               "    name: 'TypeError'\n" +
-              '  }'
+              '  }\n'
     }
   );
 
@@ -1190,7 +1290,7 @@ test('Additional assert', () => {
                 '+ null\n' +
                 '- {\n' +
                 "-   message: 'foo'\n" +
-                '- }'
+                '- }\n'
       }
     );
 
@@ -1204,7 +1304,7 @@ test('Additional assert', () => {
       ),
       {
         actual,
-        message: "message\n+ actual - expected\n\n+ 'foobar'\n- {\n-   message: 'foobar'\n- }",
+        message: "message\n+ actual - expected\n\n+ 'foobar'\n- {\n-   message: 'foobar'\n- }\n",
         operator: 'throws',
         generatedMessage: false
       }
@@ -1217,11 +1317,12 @@ test('Additional assert', () => {
     {
       code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
       name: 'AssertionError',
-      message: strictEqualMessageStart +
-              '+ actual - expected\n\n' +
-              "+ 'test test'\n" +
-              "- 'test foobar'\n" +
-              '        ^'
+      message: 'Expected values to be strictly equal:\n' +
+        '+ actual - expected\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        "+ 'test test'\n" +
+        "- 'test foobar'\n" +
+        '        ^\n',
     }
   );
 
@@ -1258,7 +1359,7 @@ test('Additional assert', () => {
     {
       code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
       name: 'AssertionError',
-      message: 'custom message\n+ actual - expected\n\n  {\n+   a: true\n-   a: false\n  }'
+      message: 'custom message\n+ actual - expected\n\n  {\n+   a: true\n-   a: false\n  }\n'
     }
   );
 
@@ -1489,19 +1590,6 @@ test('Additional assert', () => {
     );
     assert.doesNotMatch('I will pass', /different$/);
   }
-
-  {
-    const tempColor = inspect.defaultOptions.colors;
-    assert.throws(() => {
-      inspect.defaultOptions.colors = true;
-      // Guarantee the position indicator is placed correctly.
-      assert.strictEqual(111554n, 11111115);
-    }, (err) => {
-      assert.strictEqual(inspect(err).split('\n')[5], '     ^');
-      inspect.defaultOptions.colors = tempColor;
-      return true;
-    });
-  }
 });
 
 test('assert/strict exists', () => {
diff --git a/test/pseudo-tty/test-assert-colors.js b/test/pseudo-tty/test-assert-colors.js
index 9d5a923aa0f8e7..d43dd60224a06f 100644
--- a/test/pseudo-tty/test-assert-colors.js
+++ b/test/pseudo-tty/test-assert-colors.js
@@ -9,16 +9,16 @@ assert.throws(() => {
   assert.deepStrictEqual([1, 2, 2, 2, 2], [2, 2, 2, 2, 2]);
 }, (err) => {
   const expected = 'Expected values to be strictly deep-equal:\n' +
-    '\u001b[32m+ actual\u001b[39m \u001b[31m- expected\u001b[39m' +
-      ' \u001b[34m...\u001b[39m Lines skipped\n\n' +
-    '  [\n' +
-    '\u001b[32m+\u001b[39m   1,\n' +
-    '\u001b[31m-\u001b[39m   2,\n' +
-    '    2,\n' +
-    '\u001b[34m...\u001b[39m\n' +
-    '    2,\n' +
-    '    2\n' +
-    '  ]';
+    '\x1B[32m+ actual\x1B[39m \x1B[31m- expected\x1B[39m\n' +
+    '\n' +
+    '\x1B[39m  [\n' +
+    '\x1B[32m+\x1B[39m   1,\n' +
+    '\x1B[39m    2,\n' +
+    '\x1B[39m    2,\n' +
+    '\x1B[39m    2,\n' +
+    '\x1B[39m    2,\n' +
+    '\x1B[31m-\x1B[39m   2\n' +
+    '\x1B[39m  ]\n';
   assert.strictEqual(err.message, expected);
   return true;
 });
diff --git a/test/pseudo-tty/test-assert-no-color.js b/test/pseudo-tty/test-assert-no-color.js
index 698d29ab8dbceb..d488f4e6bfcbe7 100644
--- a/test/pseudo-tty/test-assert-no-color.js
+++ b/test/pseudo-tty/test-assert-no-color.js
@@ -15,5 +15,5 @@ assert.throws(
       '+ {}\n' +
       '- {\n' +
       '-   foo: \'bar\'\n' +
-      '- }',
+      '- }\n',
   });
diff --git a/test/pseudo-tty/test-assert-position-indicator.js b/test/pseudo-tty/test-assert-position-indicator.js
index 9909fee2b4ae72..22d0cbab5e376e 100644
--- a/test/pseudo-tty/test-assert-position-indicator.js
+++ b/test/pseudo-tty/test-assert-position-indicator.js
@@ -2,17 +2,39 @@
 require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
 
-process.env.NODE_DISABLE_COLORS = true;
+process.env.NODE_DISABLE_COLORS = '1';
+
+// Does not show the indicator when the terminal is too narrow
 process.stderr.columns = 20;
 
-// Confirm that there is no position indicator.
 assert.throws(
-  () => { assert.strictEqual('a'.repeat(30), 'a'.repeat(31)); },
+  () => { assert.strictEqual('123456789ABCDEFGHI', '1!3!5!7!9!BC!!!GHI'); },
   (err) => !err.message.includes('^'),
 );
 
-// Confirm that there is a position indicator.
+// Does not show the indicator because the first difference is in the first 2 chars
+process.stderr.columns = 80;
+assert.throws(
+  () => { assert.strictEqual('123456789ABCDEFGHI', '1!3!5!7!9!BC!!!GHI'); },
+  {
+    message: 'Expected values to be strictly equal:\n' +
+      '+ actual - expected\n' +
+      '\n' +
+      "+ '123456789ABCDEFGHI'\n" +
+      "- '1!3!5!7!9!BC!!!GHI'\n",
+  },
+);
+
+// Show the indicator because the first difference is in the 3 char
+process.stderr.columns = 80;
 assert.throws(
-  () => { assert.strictEqual('aaaa', 'aaaaa'); },
-  (err) => err.message.includes('^'),
+  () => { assert.strictEqual('123456789ABCDEFGHI', '12!!5!7!9!BC!!!GHI'); },
+  {
+    message: 'Expected values to be strictly equal:\n' +
+      '+ actual - expected\n' +
+      '\n' +
+      "+ '123456789ABCDEFGHI'\n" +
+      "- '12!!5!7!9!BC!!!GHI'\n" +
+      '     ^\n',
+  },
 );