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
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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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of struggles
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 June 2026
Roki Sasaki struggles in loss Former Dodger Miguel Vargas delivered the go-ahead hit for the White Sox in the fifth inning as part of a game-defining seven-run rally.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Edwards is a good, kind, and loyal friend, but also struggles with depression and alcoholism.
—Kelly Martinez, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
The Knicks also had to overcome Brunson’s early shooting struggles through the first half (6-for-14) and Towns early foul trouble (two of his four fouls within the game’s first 63 seconds).
—Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
The Bidens have lived through the death of one son, the addiction struggles of another, several brutal campaigns, and the klieg lights of a presidency.
—Julia Terruso, Time, 11 June 2026
The higher the humidity, the more the human body struggles to deal with the heat because the air is so saturated with moisture that the sweat that would otherwise cool us down can’t evaporate, Laitano said.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
China currently struggles to maintain the iron grip of the communist party politically, while encouraging foreign investment and market economics.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2026
Russia faces further battlefield setbacks Russia’s armed forces are suffering dual pressures from significant battlefield casualties and struggles to recruit replacements, underscoring Moscow’s growing challenges in its war on Ukraine.
—semafor.com, 29 May 2026
Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
Rather than focusing on recent struggles, Mattingly pointed toward the larger body of work that made Bichette one of the American League's most productive young hitters during his years in Toronto.
—Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Finding answers to their collective struggles isn’t becoming any easier the longer their issues persist.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
Additionally, children face ongoing struggles with attention spans and focus, significantly poorer sleep quality, and potential exposure to inappropriate online content.
—La'tasha Givens, CBS News, 11 June 2026
But Connor Yakaitis, the deputy director at CTLVC, said the region’s struggles with high energy costs weren’t simply the result of stagnant supply and rising demand.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2026
Ohtani was back to a full starter’s workload for the first time since 2023, even mentioning fatigue in his postgame interview after his second start of the season, and before games was working to address his offensive struggles.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
In addition to all of those struggles, Lululemon, like everyone else, has also had to contend with a new conflict in the Middle East and surging gas prices, which are also increasing costs.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 4 June 2026
Summer will still come with its share of struggles.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026
Verb
Ray struggles to hide his drink, to get a drink, to get away on his own and pursue his Sisyphean labors of hammering a bucket of baseballs off a tee and then wandering through the field to collect them and start again.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 June 2026
Roki Sasaki struggles in loss Former Dodger Miguel Vargas delivered the go-ahead hit for the White Sox in the fifth inning as part of a game-defining seven-run rally.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Edwards is a good, kind, and loyal friend, but also struggles with depression and alcoholism.
—Kelly Martinez, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
The Knicks also had to overcome Brunson’s early shooting struggles through the first half (6-for-14) and Towns early foul trouble (two of his four fouls within the game’s first 63 seconds).
—Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
The Bidens have lived through the death of one son, the addiction struggles of another, several brutal campaigns, and the klieg lights of a presidency.
—Julia Terruso, Time, 11 June 2026
The higher the humidity, the more the human body struggles to deal with the heat because the air is so saturated with moisture that the sweat that would otherwise cool us down can’t evaporate, Laitano said.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
China currently struggles to maintain the iron grip of the communist party politically, while encouraging foreign investment and market economics.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2026
Russia faces further battlefield setbacks Russia’s armed forces are suffering dual pressures from significant battlefield casualties and struggles to recruit replacements, underscoring Moscow’s growing challenges in its war on Ukraine.
—semafor.com, 29 May 2026
Noun
The McDowells are far from alone in their struggles to find stable, straightforward child care.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
Rather than focusing on recent struggles, Mattingly pointed toward the larger body of work that made Bichette one of the American League's most productive young hitters during his years in Toronto.
—Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Finding answers to their collective struggles isn’t becoming any easier the longer their issues persist.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
Additionally, children face ongoing struggles with attention spans and focus, significantly poorer sleep quality, and potential exposure to inappropriate online content.
—La'tasha Givens, CBS News, 11 June 2026
But Connor Yakaitis, the deputy director at CTLVC, said the region’s struggles with high energy costs weren’t simply the result of stagnant supply and rising demand.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2026
Ohtani was back to a full starter’s workload for the first time since 2023, even mentioning fatigue in his postgame interview after his second start of the season, and before games was working to address his offensive struggles.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
In addition to all of those struggles, Lululemon, like everyone else, has also had to contend with a new conflict in the Middle East and surging gas prices, which are also increasing costs.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 4 June 2026
Summer will still come with its share of struggles.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggles
Verb
-
After a rocky start, Joey stumbles on some talents and goes to great lengths to impress Leonard in his audition for a play.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 June 2026
-
Bargatze stars as Nate Wilcox, a successful salesman who stumbles into a chaotic life as a stay-at-home dad to three daughters after his wife, Katie (Mandy Moore), lands a life-changing deal on Shark Tank to put her household invention into play.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Rahma strives for a cinema-verité aesthetic, with footage sometimes shot on vintage digital cameras, but the show’s style can’t overcome the limits of its format.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
10 June 2026
-
China is looking to spend nearly $300 billion over the next five years to build more data centers across the country, as Beijing strives to gain ground on the US in the AI race.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Despite the scale of the war at hand, which involves aerial battles between dragon riders as well as giant troops of warriors on land and sea, much of the action Rhaenyra has been involved in is interpersonal — at least so far.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
-
The first 45 minutes were something of a slog as both teams failed to capitalize on any great opportunities and spent much of their time in battles at the midfield.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
The clashes continued even after police ordered the demonstrators to disperse.—
Jamey Keaten,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
-
In the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, violence drove displacements to record levels following the armed clashes in Cite Soleil in March and again in May.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova had one of the fiercest rivalries in sports history, and now the pair are opening up about the friendship that followed off the court in a new documentary that revisits their years at the top of women's tennis.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
-
By 1735, rowdy games of foot-ball were already associated with political rivalries in Boston.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
That’s not how the numbering system works.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
-
The six-minute quasi-title track works as a centerpiece, its compressed qanun (a stringed Middle Eastern instrument, played here by the acclaimed Syrian musician Maya Youssef) looping in the background as electronic pulses, foreboding pianos, and disembodied voices swirl around the mix.—
Alex Robert Ross,
Pitchfork,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
In between fights, promotions for the military have been displayed on the big screens.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
15 June 2026
-
Trump has sought to tie Sunday’s event — which features seven fights running past midnight — to larger, months-long celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.—
Will Weissert,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Video taken by Fox News Digital showed several skirmishes breaking out as Anthony was handed a sentence of 35 years behind bars for Metcalf’s killing.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
-
Thankfully, none of these skirmishes affects the guests’ satisfaction with the trip.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Struggles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggles. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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