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 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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in battle
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
Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2025
Two more payments last year went to a cousin struggling to feed his family.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Noah White, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
In Indonesia, the Catalan elaborated on his internal struggles.
—Jonathan Hawkins, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for struggle
Verb
Pediatrics has for years been enduring a workforce shortage—to the point where pediatrics training programs are struggling to fill slots.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2025
Two more payments last year went to a cousin struggling to feed his family.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
The reason for his struggles — and many others’ — is hard to track, but expectations have changed for what a top-tier quarterback talent is supposed to be out of the gate.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
In Indonesia, the Catalan elaborated on his internal struggles.
—Jonathan Hawkins, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for struggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggle
Verb
-
This summer, a Florida man stumbled on a wrecked vessel while fishing with his grandson – possibly a 19th-century ship designed to carry rum.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
8 Oct. 2025
-
One day while in City Bowl, a residential neighborhood in Cape Town, Kienle Gonzalez stumbled across a 1920s Arts and Crafts home at the foot of the mountainside.—
Sophia Herring,
Architectural Digest,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Let it never be said that Taylor Alison Swift doesn’t strive to be amazing.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
-
This is especially true for the young Latine children and families who are striving to learn the local language and customs of a country that’s already waging war against them.—
Priscilla Blossom,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Congressional Democrats have not sought to change that, at least not in the current spending fight.—
Todd Spangler,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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The administration has also called out the arrest of Sortor, a 27-year-old conservative influencer, amid protests outside the ICE facility in Portland during what police characterized as a fight.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Blame Mercury’s clash with Chiron!—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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Previous attempts by activist flotillas to break the blockade have largely failed and sometimes sparked deadly clashes, including during the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla raid.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The battle of the rotations Pretty much every night, their starting pitcher was better than your starting pitcher.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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That includes research presentations on hip-hop, identity and activism, interactive workshops in education and creative practice, and a freestyle dance battle.—
Liz Rothaus Bertrand,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Already labored by national debt levels around double the European target, in September the French economy was downgraded by credit ratings agency Fitch.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
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This October's full moon is known as the Harvest Moon, owing to its proximity to the autumn equinox — when farmers would labor under the light of the moon to gather their crops long before artificial light was invented.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In a phone call with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette shortly after the petition was filed, Richardson mostly declined to comment on his own health and the recall effort.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Oct. 2025
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Gainwell could have forced the Steelers to give him more of the share, especially in an effort to keep Jaylen Warren healthy.—
Jake Ciely,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These issues are not unique to the WNBA, as its affiliate league, the NBA, has weathered refereeing controversies and skirmishes over player pay for years.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
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Each new development is underscored by a lingering discomfort about the racial dynamics of the skirmish and about Maja taking action where Nourou might have wanted to leave the whole thing be.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Struggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggle. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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