struggle

verb strug·gle \ ˈstrə-gəl \

Updated on: 10 May 2018

Definition of struggle

struggled; struggling play \ˈstrə-g(ə-)liŋ\

intransitive verb

1 : to make strenuous or violent efforts in the face of difficulties or opposition

struggling with the problem

2 : to proceed with difficulty or with great effort

struggled through the high grass

struggling to make a living

—

struggler

play \ˈstrə-g(ə-)lər\ noun

See struggle defined for English-language learners

See struggle defined for kids

Examples of struggle in a Sentence

He has been struggling with the problem of how to keep good workers from leaving.
They struggled for the right to vote.
She struggled up the hill through the snow.
She struggled to lift the package by herself, but it was too heavy.
He struggled to get free of the wreckage.
He's been struggling in math class for most of the year.
The team has continued to struggle in recent weeks.
He was living as a struggling artist in the city.

Recent Examples of struggle from the Web

Despite a series of harsh reforms, there has so far been no tangible improvements for the millions of families struggling to survive on low or modest incomes.

— david taylor, Houston Chronicle, "Low voter turnout for Uniform elections," 6 May 2018
Nevada got better as the season rolled along, but the team still only managed wins over struggling Hawaii, San Jose State and UNLV.

— iliana limón romero, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Nevada aims to build on prolific offense, is No. 113 in 2018 preseason college football rankings," 6 May 2018
Vazquez Dedelow also purchased struggling radio station WJOB in Hammond.

— carole carlson, Post-Tribune, "Purdue Northwest commencement marks new chapter in lives of graduates," 5 May 2018
The result: a child struggling to negotiate her relationship with the adult world in the books is reduced to a brat in a mood.

— mike fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Treasure the pirate in First Stage's 'Judy Moody and Stink'," 5 May 2018
Some critics question why a $500 billion company with so many top engineers still struggles to protect its users' identities.

— the washington post, OregonLive.com, "Facebook's crackdown on fake accounts isn't working for everyone," 5 May 2018
Rising tuition costs, fewer federal loan options, and a dip in financial aid have left some high school seniors in Massachusetts struggling this year to come up with thousands of additional dollars to pay for tuition.

— deirdre fernandes, BostonGlobe.com, "Needy students squeezed at UMass Amherst," 5 May 2018
The piece’s most exciting passages, including a heart-touching final fade, find the cellos struggling to maintain a steady rhythm while the music slips and slides — sections in which unstuckness becomes, for once, the music’s true subject matter.

— joshua kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, "San Francisco Symphony does right by little-known Prokofiev," 4 May 2018
Shares of BNP Paribas SA and Société Générale SA fell Friday as the French lenders’ investment-banking operations struggled at the start of the year, lagging U.S. peers that largely prospered in volatile markets.

— william horobin, WSJ, "Sluggish European Markets Dent French Banks’ Results," 4 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'struggle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of struggle

Middle English struglen

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

struggle Synonyms

Synonyms

bang away, dig (away), drudge, endeavor, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, sweat, toil, travail, tug, work;

Near Antonyms

break, ease (up), let up, slacken;

bum, chill, dally, dillydally, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, lounge, shirk, slack (off), veg out;

bask, loll, relax, repose, rest, unwind;

dabble, doodle, fool around, goof (around), hang, mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle;

attack, drive;

essay, try;

exercise, exert, overexert, overwork;

eke out, grind (out), put out, scrabble, scratch;

trudge, wade;

Phrases

sweat blood;

struggle

noun

Definition of struggle

1 : contest, strife

armed struggle

a power struggle

2 : a violent effort or exertion : an act of strongly motivated striving

a struggle to make ends meet

3 : tussle 1

during the struggle the gun went off

See struggle defined for English-language learners

Examples of struggle in a Sentence

the struggle for civil rights
There was a struggle for the gun.
There was no sign of a struggle.
It was a struggle getting out of bed this morning.

Recent Examples of struggle from the Web

Salazar’s presence has been missed this spring, which mostly has been a struggle for the Unicorns.

— adam zuvanich, San Antonio Express-News, "New Braunfels motivated by memory of fallen teammate," 4 May 2018
And even his father-in-law knew his putting had been a struggle of late.

— rob hodgetts, CNN, "Long drives, short sight: How contact lenses helped Patrick Reed win Masters," 3 May 2018
Finding the perfect pair of jeans can be a lifelong struggle.

— tara lamont-djite, Marie Claire, "Why You Should Invest In These AG Jeans," 2 May 2018
Even the five games on campus at J.O. Christian Field have been a struggle.

— mike anthony, courant.com, "Mike Anthony: Jim Penders, UConn Baseball Thriving In 2018 Storm," 29 Apr. 2018
The notion that struggle is key to success has become popular in education circles in recent years.

— isabel fattal, The Atlantic, "The Value of Failing," 25 Apr. 2018
But this has been a constant struggle since Trump took office.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: VA nominee’s struggles are a consequence of Trump’s vetting failures," 24 Apr. 2018
Despite that energy, surviving in L.A. is a struggle for many working artists.

— marissa gluck, Los Angeles Magazine, "Here’s Why You Should Tip the Bartender Next Time You’re at an Art Opening," 24 Apr. 2018
Two months after a gunman killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, going to class is still a struggle for freshman Lauren Fest.

— kyra gurney, miamiherald, "A regular day is hard enough for Parkland students. Now they face standardized tests. | Miami Herald," 23 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of struggle

1560

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

struggle Synonyms

STRUGGLE Defined for English Language Learners

struggle

verb

Definition of struggle for English Language Learners

: to try very hard to do, achieve, or deal with something that is difficult or that causes problems
: to move with difficulty or with great effort
: to try to move yourself, an object, etc., by making a lot of effort

struggle

noun

Definition of struggle for English Language Learners

: a long effort to do, achieve, or deal with something that is difficult or that causes problems
: a physical fight between usually two people
: something that is difficult to do or achieve