1
as in to stumble
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
each week I would struggle through my piano lesson, keenly aware that I wasn't getting any better
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to strive
to devote serious and sustained effort
the financially strapped couple struggled to make ends meet
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in fight
a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective
a performer's long struggle to achieve success
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2
as in battle
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
there was a struggle between the armed robber and the shopkeeper, and the gun went off
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3
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
her staunchest supporters in her struggle for the office
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of struggle
Charles Trepany, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Johnson County’s aging population has struggled to age in place and its first-time homebuyers struggled to find starter homes as smaller, more affordable options aren’t readily available.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2025
Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
In her memoir, Under Construction, Stause has written about her parents’ struggle with addiction; her father and mother both died from lung cancer in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
—Quispe López, Them., 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for struggle
Verb
But the phenonmena is more prevalent right now as Gen Z struggles to find connections in real life amid the era of dating apps.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Johnson County’s aging population has struggled to age in place and its first-time homebuyers struggled to find starter homes as smaller, more affordable options aren’t readily available.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
These are the struggles that families go through all around the country everyday, mostly in silence.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
In her memoir, Under Construction, Stause has written about her parents’ struggle with addiction; her father and mother both died from lung cancer in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
—Quispe López, Them., 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for struggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggle
Verb
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Although the discovery has only now been formally studied, cavers from the Czech Speleological Society first stumbled upon the phenomenon in 2022 during an expedition in Vromoner Canyon.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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Uber reported strong growth in its third-quarter earnings report on Wednesday, but stumbled on the bottom line after absorbing a $479 million charge for what the company described as undisclosed legal and regulatory matters.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Let’s strive for greater together.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 Nov. 2025
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The development comes as Netflix strives to become more competitive with its peers in the battle to win ad dollars from Madison Avenue.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The impact of losing enhanced premium subsidies The political fight around enhanced subsidies, which were enacted in 2021 under the Biden administration, is playing out during the ACA marketplace's open enrollment, when would-be enrollees are picking their health plans for 2026.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
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The fights are being broadcast on DAZN pay-per-view.—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The Davidson Wildcats’ men’s basketball team hunted the three-ball early and often in the 40th edition of the battle for the Hornets’ Nest, connecting frequently on the way to a 62-55 victory over the Charlotte 49ers on Tuesday night.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Nov. 2025
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In a battle of NFC behemoths, the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles (7-2) escaped Green Bay with a 10-7 win.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In recent decades, Thailand and Cambodia have had a complicated relationship of both cooperation and rivalry.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
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The Fighting Irish have absolutely dominated the rivalry in recent years, taking down the Panthers with a 58-7 final score in 2023 and a 45-3 final score in 2020.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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That means that while some other federal workers have labored without pay for a month, CJA panel attorneys such as Foster and Binninger have worked without pay since before July 3, when the CJA funding officially expired.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Nov. 2025
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The Dodgers then knocked off the Giants in the NL Division Series, though Scherzer lost his Game 3 start – allowing three hits and a run on Evan Longoria’s game-deciding homer while laboring seven innings and 110 pitches.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Even as federal funding resumes, local colleges, businesses and nonprofits are joining county agencies in maintaining relief efforts for as long as Sacramento-area residents need them.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
12 Nov. 2025
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The first Black cemetery in Tarrant County, home to the remains of more than 500 veterans, was rededicated on Veterans Day after a months-long restoration effort.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Much of this strife, including throughout the 1967-1970 civil war and subsequent clashes over the decades, has also been closely tied to feuds across ethnic and territorial lines.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Pfizer and Novo Nordisk are in a takeover clash over the obesity biotech Metsera, with both pharmaceutical giants raising their bids for the startup as of Monday.—
Annika Kim Constantino,Bertha Coombs,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Struggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggle. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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