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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of struggles
Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
The book, illustrated by Petra Brown and geared toward kids ages 3 to 7, follows a young girl named Kat who struggles to continue horseback riding after falling off a horse.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 3 Nov. 2025
If your current 1 Gbps connection struggles with buffering or slow uploads, upgrading to a 2 Gbps plan may be worthwhile.
—Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
All of that has been wrapped around impressive wins over the Vikings, Commanders and Bills that have only served to make these Falcons’ struggles more confounding.
—Josh Kendall, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
In the film, the pair star as young couple Grace and Jackson, who move from New York City to Jackson’s hometown in Montana and become parents, as Grace struggles to maintain her sanity after giving birth.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2025
In This Poison Heart, Briseis already struggles with controlling her unique, yet lethal command over plants.
—Brittany Johnson, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
Finding the money might seem like an issue on the surface, but the Dodgers aren't the kind of team that struggles with the payroll.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
The losers in this round are Toby and our not-so-perfect Tom, who struggles the entire episode, which is strange for a man who is that good-looking.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Christian Clark, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
The shutdown could very well exacerbate those struggles for many Americans, especially people on the margins.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Rural populations have been systemically neglected in policy and underreported in the media, and the perpetuation of visual stereotypes further undermines their struggles.
—William Jones, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
But after Pittsburgh's struggles defending the Bengals and the Packers the last two weeks, a Steelers win over Indianapolis would be an absolute shocker.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Young voters are united in disappointment Many young Americans feel a collective sense of disillusionment in the political system, and respondents told NPR that their financial struggles are exacerbating that pain.
—Elena Moore, NPR, 31 Oct. 2025
Firake cited Kodak’s business struggles as an example of a company that failed to respond quickly to technological disruption and adapt its model.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2025
Bieber’s close friend Kendall Jenner has been open about her own struggles with acne—recently, becoming an ambassador for Therabody’s new LED mask, the TheraFace Mask Glo.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2025
But that first touchdown was a big one in the way Mizzou has had its struggles with explosive plays this season.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
Mason, my character, really struggles with that.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
The book, illustrated by Petra Brown and geared toward kids ages 3 to 7, follows a young girl named Kat who struggles to continue horseback riding after falling off a horse.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 3 Nov. 2025
If your current 1 Gbps connection struggles with buffering or slow uploads, upgrading to a 2 Gbps plan may be worthwhile.
—Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
All of that has been wrapped around impressive wins over the Vikings, Commanders and Bills that have only served to make these Falcons’ struggles more confounding.
—Josh Kendall, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
In the film, the pair star as young couple Grace and Jackson, who move from New York City to Jackson’s hometown in Montana and become parents, as Grace struggles to maintain her sanity after giving birth.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2025
In This Poison Heart, Briseis already struggles with controlling her unique, yet lethal command over plants.
—Brittany Johnson, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
Finding the money might seem like an issue on the surface, but the Dodgers aren't the kind of team that struggles with the payroll.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
The losers in this round are Toby and our not-so-perfect Tom, who struggles the entire episode, which is strange for a man who is that good-looking.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
A lot of Flagg’s struggles can be explained by the situation he’s been put in.
—Christian Clark, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
The shutdown could very well exacerbate those struggles for many Americans, especially people on the margins.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Rural populations have been systemically neglected in policy and underreported in the media, and the perpetuation of visual stereotypes further undermines their struggles.
—William Jones, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
But after Pittsburgh's struggles defending the Bengals and the Packers the last two weeks, a Steelers win over Indianapolis would be an absolute shocker.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Young voters are united in disappointment Many young Americans feel a collective sense of disillusionment in the political system, and respondents told NPR that their financial struggles are exacerbating that pain.
—Elena Moore, NPR, 31 Oct. 2025
Firake cited Kodak’s business struggles as an example of a company that failed to respond quickly to technological disruption and adapt its model.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2025
Bieber’s close friend Kendall Jenner has been open about her own struggles with acne—recently, becoming an ambassador for Therabody’s new LED mask, the TheraFace Mask Glo.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2025
But that first touchdown was a big one in the way Mizzou has had its struggles with explosive plays this season.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggles
Verb
-
But Zoë’s first adaptation stumbles out of the gate — in large part because this show isn’t really her show.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
29 Oct. 2025
-
With the three Premier League stumbles and a grating 1-0 Champions League shutout to Galatasaray, Liverpool found itself with four uninterrupted losses for the first time since 2014.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Every athlete faces the fear of failure and strives to uphold a standard.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Unity strives for timely payment processing, typically aiming to complete clean claims within about a month, with accountability built into its agreements.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Nor are the ongoing battles to comply with rules both at home and abroad.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The court battles that followed won the tribe a crucial gaming compact, and the ability to buy the land that would become home to Sky River Casino.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
On Friday, clashes between protesters and immigration agents erupted near a middle school in Evanston, a suburb north of Chicago.—
NPR,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Early on, federal agents guarding the building deployed tear gas and shot pepper balls in clashes with protesters and arrested some of them, including some charged with felonies on suspicion of assaulting or blocking officers.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Beijing’s talent-friendly move could also give it a boost amid continuing trade tensions and tech rivalries with Washington, which has imposed export controls on chips and other advanced technology that are spurring China to develop its own.—
Peter Guo,
NBC news,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Lewis, a tight end at Wisconsin from 2004-07, traces his appreciation for rivalries to his Big Ten roots.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Historical police data shows arguments or fights escalating was a factor in about 29% of all homicides in the city since 2020.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
3 Nov. 2025
-
However, leaking information about fights, movements, and filming activity happens all the time.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
David Wolf, the executive director of the Legacy of the Plains Museum in Scottsbluff, said experts estimate that as many 10 people died for every mile of the trail ‒ perhaps as many as 20,000 travelers, plus an unknown number of Native Americans killed during skirmishes.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Amid the skirmishes that ensued, federal agents fired a chemical agent toward a protester at near-point-blank range, and security personnel later opened fire on a U-Haul truck that had backed up toward a barrier on the island’s bridge, injuring the driver and an apparent bystander.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Observers say other violent conflicts arise from communal and ethnic tensions, as well as disputes between farmers and herders over limited access to land and water resources.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
-
That's not to minimize our current conflicts.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Struggles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggles. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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