struggled; struggling
ˈstrə-g(ə-)liŋ 
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
2
: a violent effort or exertion : an act of strongly motivated striving
a struggle to make ends meet
3
: tussle sense 1
during the struggle the gun went off
Examples of struggle in a Sentence
Verb
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.
Noun
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 on the Web
Mike Levin, Oc Register, 10 July 2025
Many prominent energy and hardware startups have faltered at this critical juncture, struggling to transition from promising prototypes to reliable performance in real-world settings at scale.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 11 July 2025
Franklin might be the most recent honoree (beating out Curt Cignetti), but the Penn State coach’s struggles with self-editing are not specific to his dealings with Notre Dame.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for struggle
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Verb
Make Healthy Food More Accessible Millions of families struggle to afford healthy food.
—Mike Levin, Oc Register, 10 July 2025
Many prominent energy and hardware startups have faltered at this critical juncture, struggling to transition from promising prototypes to reliable performance in real-world settings at scale.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Noun
Javier Hernandez, executive director of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, told The Associated Press that agents eventually arrested the Honduran man following the struggle inside the clinic that was captured on video.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 11 July 2025
Franklin might be the most recent honoree (beating out Curt Cignetti), but the Penn State coach’s struggles with self-editing are not specific to his dealings with Notre Dame.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for struggle
Cite this Entry
“Struggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/struggle. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
struggle
2 of 2 noun1
: fight entry 2 sense 1a, contest
a power struggle
2
: a violent or strenuous effort or exertion
a struggle to make ends meet
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