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
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
When Little John struggles to describe his dream girl, Robin instructs his protegee to sketch an image with words.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
The latest strikes underscore a new phase of the war, with Ukraine increasingly able to hit high-value targets deep inside Russia while Moscow struggles to prevent drones from reaching politically sensitive and economically important sites near the capital.
—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Matthew still struggles to recover his memories but is trying.
—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
18 June 2026
As Emma struggles to find her way home, another teenage girl is watching from the shadows.
—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
18 June 2026
All four of the most likely A’s All-Stars would be making their first-ever appearances, with other stars like Wilson and Rooker having the potential to make games in the future after dealing with injuries and some struggles this season that have kept them out of contention.
—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
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
Edwards is a good, kind, and loyal friend, but also struggles with depression and alcoholism.
—
Kelly Martinez,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2026
The book came out when mental illness was heavily stigmatized; Styron paved the way for authors to write about their own struggles with depression and similar disorders.
—
Michael Schaub,
Oc Register,
25 June 2026
Where the Battle of the Gullet struggles isn’t to do with how handmade the gunwales are, nor how battered the oars.
—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 June 2026
Stars have spoken about plastic surgery for different reasons over the years — some in the hope of normalizing cosmetic work, others to be upfront about the struggles that led them to go under the knife.
—
Louis Peitzman,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 June 2026
Cathy says her daughter's addiction struggles began after a 2016 motorcycle accident, when doctors prescribed her painkillers.
—
Gillian Telling,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
Successes must support the struggles.
—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
Thomas, 25, has seen limited playing time this season due to some offensive struggles.
—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
23 June 2026
Despite his consistent offensive struggles, Brujan's defensive flexibility across the infield and outfield positions remains an intriguing asset, potentially attracting another club to offer him an opportunity.
—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
The introvert who generates extraordinary individual insight but struggles to inspire large groups gets an extroverted deputy to do the rallying.
—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
When Little John struggles to describe his dream girl, Robin instructs his protegee to sketch an image with words.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
The latest strikes underscore a new phase of the war, with Ukraine increasingly able to hit high-value targets deep inside Russia while Moscow struggles to prevent drones from reaching politically sensitive and economically important sites near the capital.
—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Matthew still struggles to recover his memories but is trying.
—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
18 June 2026
As Emma struggles to find her way home, another teenage girl is watching from the shadows.
—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
18 June 2026
All four of the most likely A’s All-Stars would be making their first-ever appearances, with other stars like Wilson and Rooker having the potential to make games in the future after dealing with injuries and some struggles this season that have kept them out of contention.
—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
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
Edwards is a good, kind, and loyal friend, but also struggles with depression and alcoholism.
—
Kelly Martinez,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
Noun
But the focus stays very much on the struggles of married life.
—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2026
The book came out when mental illness was heavily stigmatized; Styron paved the way for authors to write about their own struggles with depression and similar disorders.
—
Michael Schaub,
Oc Register,
25 June 2026
Where the Battle of the Gullet struggles isn’t to do with how handmade the gunwales are, nor how battered the oars.
—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 June 2026
Stars have spoken about plastic surgery for different reasons over the years — some in the hope of normalizing cosmetic work, others to be upfront about the struggles that led them to go under the knife.
—
Louis Peitzman,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 June 2026
Cathy says her daughter's addiction struggles began after a 2016 motorcycle accident, when doctors prescribed her painkillers.
—
Gillian Telling,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
Successes must support the struggles.
—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
Thomas, 25, has seen limited playing time this season due to some offensive struggles.
—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
23 June 2026
Despite his consistent offensive struggles, Brujan's defensive flexibility across the infield and outfield positions remains an intriguing asset, potentially attracting another club to offer him an opportunity.
—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
18 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.
-
The first robot stumbles on aluminum debris, its wheels furiously trying to get traction and move around the obstacle.
Verb
-
Alan Stanton said the conservative county strives not to overregulate in general.
-
New legislation introduced by a bipartisan group of senators strives to add new aircraft to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Hurricane Hunter fleet and codify the agency’s role in meteorological research.
Noun
-
Informal Beyblade battles are popping up in strangest of places, with players huddling in parks, gyms and shopping malls.
-
Unlike in Jalisco or Michoacán, spectacular gun battles are hardly ever seen in Colima.
Noun
-
Social interactions may stir up complicated feelings when the Libra moon clashes with Mercury.
-
Enter Maddie’s Secret, Early’s directorial debut, which follows a chef at GourMaybe Test Kitchen whose rising place in the food-influencer world clashes with her lifelong struggle with bulimia.
Noun
-
First, the worst conference changes hadn’t struck yet, and some of the rivalries torn apart by previous realignments were even getting back together.
-
As Miranda works to protect the magazine's influence, old alliances and rivalries are tested, putting Andy in the middle of another complicated chapter in her career.
Verb
-
Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.
Noun
-
The sequence required full-scale versions of Corlys’ (Steve Trussaint) and Lohar’s (Abigail Thorn) ships to be built and usable on both a dry tank and wet tank, thousands of gallons of water and extras and, naturally, numerous CGI dragon fights requiring mechanical bucks.
-
At 31, Moises concludes his UFC tenure with an 8-8 record over 16 fights, having faced recent struggles with three losses in his last four outings, including consecutive defeats.
Noun
-
While the war ended years before, the hostility spread from the stands — with skirmishes among supporters — into the field, when Maradona tricked the referee and the world with the World Cup’s most infamous goal, punching the ball into the net with his fist above England’s goalie Peter Shilton.
-
Continue reading … — Two arrested as skirmishes erupt outside courthouse after Karmelo Anthony verdict.
Cite this Entry
“Struggles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggles. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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