Synonyms of struggle

struggle 1 of 2

verb

ˈstrə-gəl 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stumble
• trudge
• limp
• blunder
• flounder
• shuffle
• jog
• fumble
• plod
• falter
• lurch
• sway
• lumber
• flog
• reel
• bumble
• wallow
• stagger
• shamble
• muddle
• totter
• welter
• teeter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• coast
• fly
• sail
• glide
• zoom
• zip
• kilt

2

as in to strive

to devote serious and sustained effort

the financially strapped couple struggled to make ends meet

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strive
• labor
• work
• endeavor
• try
• toil
• slave
• tug
• sweat
• hustle
• plow
• dig (away)
• strain
• travail
• plod
• bang away
• hump
• slog
• plug
• beaver (away)
• drudge
• apply (oneself)
• peg (away)
• grub
• sweat blood
• moil
• attack
• fag
• buckle (down)
• exercise
• exert
• essay
• drive
• eke out
• pitch in
• dig in
• scratch
• hammer (away)
• grind (out)
• wade
• overwork
• knuckle down
• trudge
• put out
• overexert
• scrabble

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• break
• ease (up)
• slacken
• let up
• hang (around or out)
• shirk
• rest
• lounge
• bum
• goof (off)
• relax
• chill
• slack (off)
• idle
• unwind
• hack (around)
• play
• loaf
• laze
• hang
• bask
• repose
• veg out
• dabble
• fool around
• loll
• dillydally
• footle
• trifle
• goof (around)
• mess around
• hang about
• dally
• goldbrick
• doodle
• monkey (around)
• putter (around)
• potter (around)
• fribble

struggle

2 of 2

noun

1

as in fight

a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective

a performer's long struggle to achieve success

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fight
• battle
• effort
• fray
• throes
• attempt
• scrabble
• work
• try
• pains
• grind
• endeavor
• trouble
• toil
• exertion
• war
• drudgery
• strife
• labor
• conflict
• warfare
• combat
• tussle
• travail
• contest
• sweat
• essay

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fight
• battle
• clash
• skirmish
• tussle
• conflict
• scuffle
• fray
• contest
• combat
• brawl
• confrontation
• scrimmage
• duel
• dustup
• altercation
• fracas
• scrap
• hassle
• scrum
• pitched battle
• quarrel
• dispute
• battle royal
• blows
• rough-and-tumble
• spat
• tangle
• melee
• squabble
• wrangle
• mix-up
• fistfight
• controversy
• row
• grapple
• slugfest
• broil
• affray
• ruckus
• fisticuffs
• joust
• misunderstanding
• face-off
• free-for-all
• donnybrook
• falling-out
• punch-up
• punch-out
• disagreement
• cross fire
• argument
• ruction
• tiff
• catfight
• kickup
• contretemps
• handgrips
• argle-bargle
• argy-bargy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truce

3

as in rivalry

an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another

her staunchest supporters in her struggle for the office

Synonyms & Similar Words

• battle
• rivalry
• competition
• conflict
• duel
• confrontation
• warfare
• war
• contention
• match
• strife
• contest
• combat
• clash
• tug-of-war
• ball game
• showdown
• grapple
• dogfight
• sweepstakes
• face-off
• debate
• dispute
• friction
• horse race
• disputation
• quarrel
• collision
• argument
• controversy
• discord
• disagreement
• nail-biter
• wrangle
• dissension
• row

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peace
• harmony
• concord

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of struggle

Verb

At a time when classical and jazz musicians struggle to attract and retain audiences, the startup has grown into one of the biggest — and, according to Winters, one of the last — full-service shops of its kind in Florida. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026

Chambliss now looks to prevail in one of college football’s toughest environments, where top quarterbacks have traditonally struggled. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2026

Noun

In revisiting Parks’ time with Life magazine during the 1950s through the 1970s, the exhibition captures the unequivocal truth of the enduring struggle for equality and the perseverance of Black American life. — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026

Such struggles are prevalent among students from low income backgrounds, the report notes. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026