1
as in stumbles
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strives
to devote serious and sustained effort
the financially strapped couple struggled to make ends meet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in battles
a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective
a performer's long struggle to achieve success
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in clashes
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 rivalries
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
her staunchest supporters in her struggle for the office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of struggles
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Raymond James analysts upgraded the stock to an outperform rating, citing Sandisk's pricing momentum as new supply struggles to come online.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
The opposition dominates for spells but struggles to bypass his strong defence.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
While Patryk struggles to sell his paintings, Maria comes from a well-off background and created Tear Dealer, an art project that lets poor people sell their tears, collected in vials.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 29 Jan. 2026
Everyone struggles to remain in a city where rent keeps climbing and even five-generation families can’t hold onto their homes.
—Beandrea July, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026
The next big decision point would come if O’Hoppe struggles again behind the plate this season, and the Angels decide to try him at another position.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Traveling around the world, arranging meetings with whoever is the oldest at that particular moment in time, Green struggles to formulate the right questions to ask these people.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
Unlike conventional solid-state cooling, where heat struggles to move across material boundaries, this method integrates the refrigerant and heat-transfer medium into a single flowing liquid.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 22 Jan. 2026
Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 29 Jan. 2026
For those two teams and the Pacers, the absence of a talented player(s) from the year prior led to their struggles.
—Tony East, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Those struggles continued on Wednesday.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
Sanders’ push for player accountability is understandable given the Buffaloes’ struggles in 2025.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Getting to know Dean Smith A notes column Kilgo penned during that time included a couple of paragraphs about a young basketball coach at UNC named Dean Smith, who was having some struggles in the early 1960s and once was hanged in effigy on campus.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 28 Jan. 2026
Wind's struggles didn't prevent management from raising its revenue outlook for 2026 and 2028.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
The pair — who share three young children — have been candid on Mormon Wives about their marital struggles.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
Teachers’ unions across the state have been in similar struggles with other districts.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
In the movie, Redford plays Roy Hobbs, who struggles his entire life to get a shot at playing professional baseball — a transformation of Arthurian legend into mythic Americana.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Raymond James analysts upgraded the stock to an outperform rating, citing Sandisk's pricing momentum as new supply struggles to come online.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
The opposition dominates for spells but struggles to bypass his strong defence.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
While Patryk struggles to sell his paintings, Maria comes from a well-off background and created Tear Dealer, an art project that lets poor people sell their tears, collected in vials.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 29 Jan. 2026
Everyone struggles to remain in a city where rent keeps climbing and even five-generation families can’t hold onto their homes.
—Beandrea July, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026
The next big decision point would come if O’Hoppe struggles again behind the plate this season, and the Angels decide to try him at another position.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Traveling around the world, arranging meetings with whoever is the oldest at that particular moment in time, Green struggles to formulate the right questions to ask these people.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
Unlike conventional solid-state cooling, where heat struggles to move across material boundaries, this method integrates the refrigerant and heat-transfer medium into a single flowing liquid.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
After years of struggles with hearing loss, Bonnie Covey's personal story of restoration has helped others with their complications.
—Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 29 Jan. 2026
For those two teams and the Pacers, the absence of a talented player(s) from the year prior led to their struggles.
—Tony East, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Those struggles continued on Wednesday.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
Sanders’ push for player accountability is understandable given the Buffaloes’ struggles in 2025.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Getting to know Dean Smith A notes column Kilgo penned during that time included a couple of paragraphs about a young basketball coach at UNC named Dean Smith, who was having some struggles in the early 1960s and once was hanged in effigy on campus.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 28 Jan. 2026
Wind's struggles didn't prevent management from raising its revenue outlook for 2026 and 2028.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
The pair — who share three young children — have been candid on Mormon Wives about their marital struggles.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
Teachers’ unions across the state have been in similar struggles with other districts.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggles
Verb
-
Repeatedly, the project seems to transcend the projects, defying gravity in its poetic depiction of how this resilient, supportive community comes together around Lil Ant, stepping in where his father stumbles to embrace the boy.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Soon after, Bradley stumbles on Zuri’s body and confronts Linda, resulting in a brutal fight that includes stabbing, scalp ripping, and some really upsetting eye gouging.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Gensert stressed that while RideSD is a voice for young transit riders, the group strives to represent everyone who uses transit.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
-
Using the power of humour, music and entertainment, Em’s work strives to affect audiences who may not usually engage with ocean conservation.—
Mandeep Rai,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
After stepping through a giant wooden door, tall grass teems with wild Pokémon, adorable critters strike charming poses and battles break out between fierce opponents.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2026
-
ByteDance’s focus on AI ByteDance also has other battles to fight.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And Eat Street was the scene of a series of clashes, before federal officers and local and state police pulled back and protesters took over the area.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Considered to be one of the earliest TV villains, the reality television alum was known for his lack of personal hygiene, as well as his frequent clashes with fellow housemates.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
So brace yourselves for the regional rivalries.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets will meet again tonight in a matchup that remains one of the NBA's most heated rivalries, even as both franchises enter a rebuilding phase.—
Julianna Duennes Russ,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Doing so would delay response times to medical emergencies, fights, suicide attempts and fires.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Most of Szalay’s fights end by decision, and neither man has ever been finished by strikes.—
Brett Appley,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These were not skirmishes but full-scale conflicts, usually costing tens—sometimes hundreds—of thousands of lives.—
Robert Kagan,
The Atlantic,
18 Jan. 2026
-
The tactics of federal immigration agents have come under intense scrutiny after the shooting of Good and growing skirmishes between federal officers and protesters.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Compared to conflicts involving major powers since World War II, Moscow’s losses are staggering.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Geopolitical tensions, from ongoing conflicts to trade frictions, add fuel to gold’s safe-haven appeal.—
Sean Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Struggles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggles. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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