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

Yet when asked to move beyond answering questions to framing their own, many struggled. — Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026

But Lloyd, who had long struggled with mental health issues, was also suffering from drug addiction, and conflicts with Verlaine led to the band’s breakup. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026

Drake Powell, another 2025 first-round selection on assignment, also struggled offensively in Friday’s opener. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 8 Nov. 2026

The Sooners overran Florida up front as the Gators struggled to sustain drives or generate a consistent rushing attack. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026

The Hurricanes’ defense, which struggled mightily against UNC last week, started the game with a decent drive, holding Notre Dame to a field goal on its first drive. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026

Chris Jones has struggled to get on the stat sheet, and — aside from the D-line — the secondary is full of question marks. — Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2026

And it can be argued, credibly, that no other group on this soil has struggled for freedom, for justice, for equality, and for true democracy as long and as doggedly as Black folks. — Kevin Powell, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2026

Right guard Jonah Savaiinaea struggled through his worst day of the season. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026