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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to strive
to devote serious and sustained effort
the financially strapped couple struggled to make ends meet
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of struggle
ArsTechnica, 2 June 2026
Poppy Liu is no stranger to struggle.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Lourdes Mestre, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The fate of the industry that powers one of America’s favorite pastimes is mirroring the economic struggles of the country itself.
—HubSpot, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for struggle
Verb
Microsoft has struggled to branch out beyond traditional computing and enterprise services, having tried and failed on numerous occasions to gain a foothold in mobile computing.
—ArsTechnica, 2 June 2026
Poppy Liu is no stranger to struggle.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Noun
By normalizing struggle and encouraging shared responsibility, leaders can distribute the emotional labor of change across the system rather than forcing individuals to carry it alone.
—Lourdes Mestre, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The fate of the industry that powers one of America’s favorite pastimes is mirroring the economic struggles of the country itself.
—HubSpot, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for struggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggle
Verb
-
The first robot stumbles on aluminum debris, its wheels furiously trying to get traction and move around the obstacle.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
Traveling even to a different Strip hotel could be bewildering, so tourists worn out by a day of wandering, people-watching and drinking didn’t seem to mind mediocre restaurants, content to stumble off to bed after a few turns at the tables.—
Winston Ross,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Her 50-something protagonist, Alan Anderson, and his socially striving wife Vivian, are at least about to start thinking about where their family is going to go, once Alan retreats to a backyard playhouse.—
Bethanne Patrick,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
The Bears are also emphasizing ball placement with all of their quarterbacks, striving for pinpoint precision on throws as often as possible.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
The larger federal action was still a budget-and-eligibility fight dressed up in the language of reform.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
Congress, not the budget, had the last word Behind the single lease sat a much larger fight.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
On May 18, two armed teenagers entered the Islamic Center of San Diego, killing an armed security guard in a gun battle, then fatally shooting two men cornered in the parking lot, police said.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
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Staal made it 2-0 a minute and change later by winning a big boy net-front battle with Josh Anderson to pound in his second of the playoffs and continue his line’s dominance over the Canadiens.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Clash in Italy will be one of the biggest premium live events for WWE in the wake of WrestleMania 42, featuring four title matches and a rivalry renewed.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
-
These two had a strong match at Full Gear 2025, and on a stage as large as Wembley Stadium, there is plenty of reason to revisit the rivalry.—
Rob Wolkenbrod,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
The Thunder labored through a 111-103 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday in a decisive Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals.—
Mark Medina,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
With evacuation shelters reaching capacity as more than 40,000 people were asked to leave their homes, officials laboring to prevent an explosion at a crippled chemical tank in Garden Grove reported tentative progress Sunday in ending the crisis.—
Deborah Netburn,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
Eco effort Lake George is widely recognized as one of the cleanest and clearest lakes in the nation.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
The firing is sure to trigger even more scrutiny of CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss and her controversial efforts to overhaul the network news division.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
With simple syrup the clash of the liqueurs is too sharp, the flavor equivalent of swords clanging together.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
30 May 2026
-
The ruling is the latest high-profile clash between Williams and Republican officials.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Struggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggle. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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