1
as in to stumble
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 to strive
to devote serious and sustained effort
the financially strapped couple struggled to make ends meet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in fight
a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective
a performer's long struggle to achieve success
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in battle
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
there was a struggle between the armed robber and the shopkeeper, and the gun went off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
her staunchest supporters in her struggle for the office
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of struggle
Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 24 Feb. 2026
But Texas officials have struggled to prevent the mailing of pills.
—Emily Brindley
health Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2026
The latest dip is yet another example of how Bitcoin is prone to struggles amid macroeconomic uncertainty, just like the traditional stock market, as the S&P 500 also dropped about 1% on Monday.
—Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for struggle
Verb
With Boeing and Airbus struggling to meet airline demand, aircraft values have surged, allowing mid-sized lessors to command premium prices, according to the Irish Times.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 24 Feb. 2026
But Texas officials have struggled to prevent the mailing of pills.
—Emily Brindley
health Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
With Bonnie increasingly drawn to her tablet Lilypad, the toys face an existential struggle for relevance.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2026
The latest dip is yet another example of how Bitcoin is prone to struggles amid macroeconomic uncertainty, just like the traditional stock market, as the S&P 500 also dropped about 1% on Monday.
—Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for struggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggle
Verb
-
The scientists who stumbled on the rare recording are eager to use it for science.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Workers stumble upon historic burial site and 'incredibly rare' find during sewer project.—
,
FOXNews.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Instead of replacing everything, Dominick and his team work within existing systems, striving to clean, structure and govern data before layering additional intelligence.—
William Jones,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
-
But all that striving for accomplishment may cost women a great deal.—
Faith Hill,
The Atlantic,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The couple joined the fight and decided a baby would have to wait.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Cannon, the man who coined the phrase fight or flight, measured various ways in which the nervous system will reroute to cope with an emergency.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Britain had split the Chagos Islands from Mauritius before that colony gained independence, something that has been a source of diplomatic friction as well as multiple legal battles with locals who were evicted.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Arsenal is challenging for the titl while Tottenham — under new coach Igor Tudor — is in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Camden, who came to Cal as a transfer from Delaware, knew enough about the rivalry to get things right, almost.—
Jeff Faraudo,
Mercury News,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Texas State's focus remains on the present, but Friday night, fans saw the seeds of a conference rivalry being sewn.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Since then, Budig has labored tirelessly to stoke enthusiasm for Summers’ book among her Inky Phoenix community members.—
Malia Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
According to the firm, the effort reflects sustained demand from naval and air warfighters for aircraft capable of holding targets at risk from extended distances, particularly across the vast air and maritime spaces of the Western Pacific.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Eco effort The Jareckis didn't retrofit sustainability onto an existing luxury product.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit earlier this month following the Bondi attack sparked protests at major Australian cities, including clashes between pro-Palestinian demonstrators with the police outside Sydney Town Hall.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Hamilton reframed verbal clashes among the Founding Fathers as rap battles.—
Talya Zax,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Struggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggle. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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