1
as in stumbled
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 labored
to devote serious and sustained effort
the financially strapped couple struggled to make ends meet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of struggled
With its dynamic freshman depleted from flu and another starter, Chad Baker-Mazara, still out due to injury, USC struggled to find a consistent source of offense.
—
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Founder Sherille Riley, who previously worked as a facialist for high-end brands like La Prairie and Crème de la Mer, had until recently struggled to shop for K-beauty in person and initially bought the products online – only to run the risk of long shipping times or unknowingly buying a fake.
—Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
There were other chances, though, as the Blackhawks struggled shooting layups.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The defending champion Canadians haves shown signs of age and struggled through parts of the tournament.
—John Wawrow, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2026
On-time performance DART has struggled to meet its on-time performance goals of 95% on-time arrivals for trains and 85% for buses in the past five years.
—Mel Fronczek, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
The conversation struggled to get traction.
—James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
Victoria had struggled with cocaine for years and was arrested twice last year.
—Theresa Braine, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
But after winning the Olympic giant slalom gold medal at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang, Shiffrin struggled to replicate her early success at the Olympics.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Founder Sherille Riley, who previously worked as a facialist for high-end brands like La Prairie and Crème de la Mer, had until recently struggled to shop for K-beauty in person and initially bought the products online – only to run the risk of long shipping times or unknowingly buying a fake.
—Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
There were other chances, though, as the Blackhawks struggled shooting layups.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The defending champion Canadians haves shown signs of age and struggled through parts of the tournament.
—John Wawrow, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2026
On-time performance DART has struggled to meet its on-time performance goals of 95% on-time arrivals for trains and 85% for buses in the past five years.
—Mel Fronczek, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
The conversation struggled to get traction.
—James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
Victoria had struggled with cocaine for years and was arrested twice last year.
—Theresa Braine, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
But after winning the Olympic giant slalom gold medal at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang, Shiffrin struggled to replicate her early success at the Olympics.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggled
Verb
-
Illinois bolted an early 15-3 lead as USC stumbled out of the gate, turning the ball over four times in the first six minutes and missing seven of its first eight shots.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
But in a market with no room for error, the cybersecurity giant stumbled on guidance, and the stock sank.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When the novel opens in Florence, in 1557, the body of the painter Jacopo da Pontormo lies in the chapel of San Lorenzo—in front of the frescoes he’d labored over for a decade, with a painter’s chisel stuck in his heart.—
Boris Kachka,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Aster didn’t micromanage as Tracy labored over the script and suffered a bout of COVID during lockdown.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
More famously, Sven Marquardt, worked as a selector for Berghain for almost two decades.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The move to Connecticut came later, and Bessette also worked throughout her teen-age years.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One month later, Turning Point’s flagship conference descended into recriminations over the very controversies and conspiracies that its founder had endeavored so assiduously to suppress.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
-
During his short time in office, Garfield endeavored to clean up the government.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
While the Trojans tried to find their footing, the Illini built a 22-point halftime lead with little resistance.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
There were reports that a male passenger on Flight 2557 from Houston's Hobby Airport to Atlanta had tried to break into the cockpit, but that wasn't the case, Delta Air Lines said in a statement.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Struggled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggled. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
