Synonyms of struggled

struggled

verb

past tense of struggle

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

• stumbled
• floundered
• trudged
• shuffled
• blundered
• limped
• fumbled
• lurched
• plodded
• faltered
• jogged
• lumbered
• swayed
• flogged
• bumbled
• staggered
• reeled
• shambled
• wallowed
• tottered
• muddled
• weltered
• teetered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sailed
• flew
• glided
• coasted
• zoomed
• zipped
• kilted

2

as in labored

to devote serious and sustained effort

the financially strapped couple struggled to make ends meet

Synonyms & Similar Words

• labored
• worked
• endeavored
• tried
• toiled
• tugged
• strove
• hustled
• plowed
• dug (away)
• slaved
• sweat
• humped
• strained
• plodded
• slogged
• grubbed
• travailed
• pegged (away)
• fagged
• plugged
• drudged
• banged away
• moiled
• attacked
• sweat blood
• essayed
• applied (oneself)
• dug in
• exerted
• scratched
• drove
• pitched in
• buckled (down)
• exercised
• beavered (away)
• hammered (away)
• waded
• eked out
• trudged
• scrabbled
• overworked
• knuckled down
• overexerted
• ground (out)
• put out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• broke
• slackened
• eased (up)
• let up
• chilled
• shirked
• bummed
• rested
• idled
• lounged
• hung (around or out)
• relaxed
• dallied
• lazed
• loafed
• slacked (off)
• played
• goofed (off)
• basked
• hacked (around)
• reposed
• hung
• dabbled
• unwound
• lolled
• dillydallied
• goldbricked
• footled
• trifled
• vegged out
• fooled around
• doodled
• messed around
• hung about
• puttered (around)
• goofed (around)
• pottered (around)
• monkeyed (around)
• fribbled

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of struggled

The 23-year-old struggled in the defeat to Argentina before adding his seventh of the tournament against France in the third-place play-off. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

His 81-year-old partner has struggled without Vela Gonzalez, her primary caretaker. — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

The flow of traffic has improved in recent weeks, but as the US and Iran have struggled over control of the strait since last winter, countries around the world have sought alternative energy sources and looked to cut back on energy use. — Michelle Velez, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026

The British man tried to ignite them midflight but struggled to light the fuse before other passengers and crew members subdued him. — Rio Yamat, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026

In the same interview, Jake mentioned his parents’ love for Nick, 32, who had struggled with his mental health. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Sep. 2026

The day before classes started, Yurima Izaguirre struggled to pull up last year’s school uniform on the youngest of her three children. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026

All while ignoring the many examples of other big schools, like the Florida Gators, that have struggled to fill seats for noon games in August. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Nasdaq-100 futures led the way lower for stocks, losing more than 1% as tech struggled. — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026