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
Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
In addition to his family situation as a child, Horner's lawyers have presented evidence about his autism diagnosis, struggles with mental health, lead exposure and issues with his brain development in order to convince the jury to sentence him to life in prison instead of death row.
—Steven Rosenbaum, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Waller, who remains a free agent, likely won’t return because of his advanced age, and struggles with injuries last season.
—Omar Kelly
april 30, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
The dark matter hypothesis remains compelling, valid, and in agreement with the full suite of data, while the alternative — a modification of gravity — struggles mightily to explain even the very first such system ever discovered.
—Big Think, 29 Apr. 2026
But that tandem struggles to defend.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 29 Apr. 2026
After two full days off, the crew struggles to regain focus.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026
But Ayton has nearly twice as many turnovers as assists in this series, and touches for him mean even fewer 3s for a Lakers team that struggles to generate a decent volume of attempts with Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) out of the lineup.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Republicans have a tiny four-vote majority in the chamber, and the president’s party historically struggles in midterm balloting.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Horner's mother testified last week, telling the jury about her own struggles with drugs and spending parts of Horner's childhood in jail.
—Steven Rosenbaum, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Utah’s power-play struggles add another level of concern to the situation.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
East Bay Catholics were informed on Wednesday, April 29, that the Diocese of Oakland would close 13 churches across the region amid financial struggles and years of declining parishioner numbers.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
The following year, other communities in California began celebrating Cinco de Mayo, seeing Mexico’s struggles as similar to America’s in our ongoing Civil War.
—Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Quero’s struggles might force Venable to make a tough decision and give Romo more time behind the plate while Kyle Teel heals.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Jokic contributed mightily to those struggles, going 7 for 26 from the floor as Gobert again won that individual matchup.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026
This year that quarterback-in-waiting is Alabama’s Ty Simpson, a talented and smart player whose evaluation is complicated by injury struggles, as well as a lack of starting experience and consistency.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
Anticipated state struggles to regulate foreign apps is why a federal ban would be preferable, 19th News reported.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
In addition to his family situation as a child, Horner's lawyers have presented evidence about his autism diagnosis, struggles with mental health, lead exposure and issues with his brain development in order to convince the jury to sentence him to life in prison instead of death row.
—Steven Rosenbaum, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Waller, who remains a free agent, likely won’t return because of his advanced age, and struggles with injuries last season.
—Omar Kelly
april 30, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
The dark matter hypothesis remains compelling, valid, and in agreement with the full suite of data, while the alternative — a modification of gravity — struggles mightily to explain even the very first such system ever discovered.
—Big Think, 29 Apr. 2026
But that tandem struggles to defend.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 29 Apr. 2026
After two full days off, the crew struggles to regain focus.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026
But Ayton has nearly twice as many turnovers as assists in this series, and touches for him mean even fewer 3s for a Lakers team that struggles to generate a decent volume of attempts with Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) out of the lineup.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Republicans have a tiny four-vote majority in the chamber, and the president’s party historically struggles in midterm balloting.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
His personal struggles growing up with an absent dad and being a young man of color who comes from a low-income family soon take a toll on him.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Horner's mother testified last week, telling the jury about her own struggles with drugs and spending parts of Horner's childhood in jail.
—Steven Rosenbaum, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Utah’s power-play struggles add another level of concern to the situation.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
East Bay Catholics were informed on Wednesday, April 29, that the Diocese of Oakland would close 13 churches across the region amid financial struggles and years of declining parishioner numbers.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
The following year, other communities in California began celebrating Cinco de Mayo, seeing Mexico’s struggles as similar to America’s in our ongoing Civil War.
—Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Quero’s struggles might force Venable to make a tough decision and give Romo more time behind the plate while Kyle Teel heals.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Jokic contributed mightily to those struggles, going 7 for 26 from the floor as Gobert again won that individual matchup.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026
This year that quarterback-in-waiting is Alabama’s Ty Simpson, a talented and smart player whose evaluation is complicated by injury struggles, as well as a lack of starting experience and consistency.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggles
Verb
-
As Laugier’s story continues, the man wanders through a forest, stumbles upon fallen branches, and has an epiphany.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
-
Expecting dull days and strict rules, the boy instead stumbles into a world of delightful chaos and imagination – where outrageous stories are spun, and a world of wonder, memory and mischief unfolds.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Add in Michael’s goth love interest, Star (Maria Wirries), and the musical strives to capture some of the cult appeal of the source musical, the plot of which David Hornsby and Chris Hoch’s book follows closely with one notable change.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Eurovision contest strives to put pop music before politics but has repeatedly been embroiled in world events.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That means the knock-down, drag-out government shutdown battles that have become a Washington ritual are, in effect, a fight over a little more than a quarter of the federal ledger.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Marr's legal battles with State Farm started in 1999, when Marr says the insurer denied a claim that a friend filed for tornado damage.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Transportation future While most Coloradans want properly maintained roads, Restore Our Roads clashes with voters’ broader wishes, said Matt Frommer, transportation and land use policy manager for the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, an environmental advocacy group.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Last year, clashes between farmers and herders in southwestern Chad left 42 people dead and several homes burned.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Over the course of three decades, multiple law enforcement agencies tried to crack the case as conspiracy theories involving complex gang and music-related rivalries swirled.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The film traces his long-running bid to step out of Chun’s shadow and claim the top seat himself, examining the web of alliances, rivalries, and institutional maneuvers that defines his ascent.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Four interior cameras focused on student safety, including incidents such as bullying or fights.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
-
Even if there were arguments and fights, there was still love between those arguments and fights.—
Rick Stroud,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The early skirmishes certainly appeared that way.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The skirmishes are a preview for more campaigns later this year, when at least a half-dozen states will hold elections for utility regulators.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Struggles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggles. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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