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
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Recent Examples of struggled
The contrast suggests Generation X has struggled more than other age groups to recover from the Great Recession.
—
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
And Maya’s father really struggled, as a single dad, to do her hair.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
While multiple human lineages have been discovered from this time, scientists have struggled to create a clear timeline.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025
Green struggled with 17-of-32 passing for 207 yards, no touchdowns and 1 interception, which came in the end zone by Luke Talich after Arkansas had driven to the Notre Dame 26 in the fourth quarter.
—Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2025
The former teen idol said both his father and older brother, David, struggled with his rising stardom.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
That night, Cox couldn’t get the good news off his mind and struggled to fall asleep.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Natural gas, heating oil and propane prices remain volatile, and households that struggled to keep cool this summer are now worried about how to stay warm this winter.
—Derrick Hollie, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Their offense has struggled to generate big plays consistently, and their defense, especially in pass coverage, has been giving up a lot of yardage.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
And Maya’s father really struggled, as a single dad, to do her hair.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
While multiple human lineages have been discovered from this time, scientists have struggled to create a clear timeline.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025
Green struggled with 17-of-32 passing for 207 yards, no touchdowns and 1 interception, which came in the end zone by Luke Talich after Arkansas had driven to the Notre Dame 26 in the fourth quarter.
—Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2025
The former teen idol said both his father and older brother, David, struggled with his rising stardom.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
That night, Cox couldn’t get the good news off his mind and struggled to fall asleep.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Natural gas, heating oil and propane prices remain volatile, and households that struggled to keep cool this summer are now worried about how to stay warm this winter.
—Derrick Hollie, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Their offense has struggled to generate big plays consistently, and their defense, especially in pass coverage, has been giving up a lot of yardage.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggled
Verb
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The teams have stumbled for different reasons.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
25 Sep. 2025
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While another woman stumbled on a leather handbag only to find something incredible inside—a ring with an 18k hallmark and beautiful gemstone.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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These women, many of whom worked in relative obscurity for all their lives, labored to redefine the rights and dignity of all people.—
Time,
Time,
22 Sep. 2025
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Hammond labored 50 hours over a two week span to create her project.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In principle, a CNTR rocket can double the specific impulse provided by previous nuclear thermal rocket designs dating back to the 1950s (and still being worked on by NASA and DARPA today) as well as quadruple that which can be achieved by chemical rockets.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
24 Sep. 2025
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These highlights were written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.—
Jeremy Kohler,
ProPublica,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When conservative activists first tried to make noise about changing the culture of television, executives quickly grasped their agenda and its dangers.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Sep. 2025
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Eaton tried a double pass, first to a wide receiver and then the second toward the end zone, but it was broken up.—
Cody Thorn,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Struggled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggled. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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