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 clash

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truce

3

as in battle

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
• grapple
• sweep-stake
• tug-of-war
• ball game
• showdown
• dogfight
• sweepstakes
• face-off
• debate
• dispute
• friction
• horse race
• disputation
• quarrel
• collision
• argument
• discord
• controversy
• disagreement
• nail-biter
• wrangle
• dissension
• dissention
• row

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peace
• harmony
• concord

Examples of struggle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Patrick Williams struggles to find footing While other young players flexed their promise, Williams showcased the same tired concerns that have plagued his Bulls tenure. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2024

Read Article > Aug 9 Charles Pulliam-Moore Cuckoo is a picturesque nightmare that struggles to get its point across Image: Neon Coming on the heels of Longlegs and Immaculate, director Tilman Singer’s Cuckoo feels like the next phase of Neon’s plan to dominate this summer of horror. —Andrew Webster, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2024

Noun

Chronic illness is a constant struggle of give and take. —Gaylyn Henderson, Mph, Health, 11 Oct. 2024

While he’s primarily known as a rapper, Tupac was also an activist who spoke out about social issues, injustice, and the struggles of the underrepresented. —Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 11 Oct. 2024