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
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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
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Recent Examples of struggled
Footage of the crash showed a towering wave of smoke and flames billowing skyward near the airport after the low-flying plane struggled to climb and then erupted into an enormous fireball on impact.
—
Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
Memphis struggled out of the gate on Friday night against a motivated Tulane Green Wave team that suffered an upset loss to UTSA in Week 10.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
She was physically recovered a month later but has struggled with the trauma ever since.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Henderson has struggled in that role as a rookie, and Jennings is inexperienced at the pro level.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
The Buffaloes won nine games in 2024 but have struggled to find replacements for two-way player Travis Hunter or quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Her sister struggled for years with substance use, leading their mother to assume custody of her sister's two children.
—Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Oct. 2025
After an effort to create a Falls of the Ohio national park fell short in 1967, Kentucky and Indiana officials struggled to stop the falls from becoming a garbage dump.
—Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Oct. 2025
However, Dern has struggled to wrestle with any consistency in the UFC, and her striking has been erratic, though she’s improved over seven years in the promotion.
—Brett Appley, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
Memphis struggled out of the gate on Friday night against a motivated Tulane Green Wave team that suffered an upset loss to UTSA in Week 10.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
She was physically recovered a month later but has struggled with the trauma ever since.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Henderson has struggled in that role as a rookie, and Jennings is inexperienced at the pro level.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
The Buffaloes won nine games in 2024 but have struggled to find replacements for two-way player Travis Hunter or quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Her sister struggled for years with substance use, leading their mother to assume custody of her sister's two children.
—Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Oct. 2025
After an effort to create a Falls of the Ohio national park fell short in 1967, Kentucky and Indiana officials struggled to stop the falls from becoming a garbage dump.
—Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Oct. 2025
However, Dern has struggled to wrestle with any consistency in the UFC, and her striking has been erratic, though she’s improved over seven years in the promotion.
—Brett Appley, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggled
Verb
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The Avs stumbled out of the starting blocks the past two seasons.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
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Three years ago, two Sudanese men stumbled into a police station in the desert town of Tazirbu.—
Mick Krever,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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That means that while some other federal workers have labored without pay for a month, CJA panel attorneys such as Foster and Binninger have worked without pay since before July 3, when the CJA funding officially expired.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Nov. 2025
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Betsy’s love labored between two living losses.—
Joy Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Companies themselves worked with everything from 0 to 80 per cent; Microsoft’s hypothetical decarbonization pathway appeared to count on close to 50.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
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Throughout her campaign, Sherrill worked assiduously to link Ciattarelli to the sitting President.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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During his short time in office, Garfield endeavored to clean up the government.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
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Padilla endeavored to make his mark early.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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On third-and-1 with seven seconds left, Schakel took the snap and tried to spike the ball, which would have stopped the clock and given his team one final play to go for the win.—
Alex Valdes,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Soika, a surgeon, unsuccessfully tried to book a rental car to get to Utah for a weekend trip before settling on an option that seemed straight out of Hollywood.—
JOSH FUNK,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Struggled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggled. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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