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
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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
Chad De Guzman, Time, 1 Sep. 2025
The Chrisleys took in Chloe amidst Kyle’s legal issues and struggles with substance abuse.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Most of the stations of Faithfull’s cross also get visited here, including the overdoses and struggles with addiction, breakups, a miscarried child, and spells when she was clearly being exploited by others who were happy to use her notoriety to their own advantage.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025
Sales continue to decline, leadership transitions obscure visibility, and the brand struggles to find its identity in a crowded retail sector.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
The elephant in the room still struggles to stop anybody between the hashmarks.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025
According to American Addiction Centers and the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 50% of Americans know someone who struggles with substance-use disorder.
—Vivian Ogunro, Twin Cities, 30 Aug. 2025
In a recent survey of nearly 1,400 911 professionals, the National Emergency Number Association and Carbyne found that staffing issues are the biggest challenge for dispatch centers, including burnout, struggles to hire and retain staff and high reports of new hires flunking out of training.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
And even as Starship struggles, SpaceX continues its everyday work in supporting NASA's missions to the International Space Station.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 24 Aug. 2025
Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Fall in Michigan means less and less daylight as the season goes on and for many that signals the start of seasonal mental health struggles, though coping strategies can help, experts say.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Moura sees echoes between his country’s recent struggles and the United States’ own democratic challenges.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
Apple’s struggles with iPhone models in different years Apple has struggled in recent years to find a fourth iPhone model that resonates as strongly as the standard, Pro and Pro Max.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
My own experience, and my wife’s sacrifice, gave me empathy for those with financial struggles.
—Brian Walsh, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
The key to his performance is empathy — Early resists mocking Maddie or her struggles at every turn.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Despite this, she was told her struggles were likely psychological.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
New Delhi hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010 but logistical struggles have kept it from being a serious contender.
—Blythe Lawrence, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
The allowance, introduced last year, is almost 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta and 20 times the minimum wage in poorer regions, as Indonesia struggles with a cost-of-living crisis.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 1 Sep. 2025
The Chrisleys took in Chloe amidst Kyle’s legal issues and struggles with substance abuse.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Most of the stations of Faithfull’s cross also get visited here, including the overdoses and struggles with addiction, breakups, a miscarried child, and spells when she was clearly being exploited by others who were happy to use her notoriety to their own advantage.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025
Sales continue to decline, leadership transitions obscure visibility, and the brand struggles to find its identity in a crowded retail sector.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
The elephant in the room still struggles to stop anybody between the hashmarks.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025
According to American Addiction Centers and the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 50% of Americans know someone who struggles with substance-use disorder.
—Vivian Ogunro, Twin Cities, 30 Aug. 2025
In a recent survey of nearly 1,400 911 professionals, the National Emergency Number Association and Carbyne found that staffing issues are the biggest challenge for dispatch centers, including burnout, struggles to hire and retain staff and high reports of new hires flunking out of training.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
And even as Starship struggles, SpaceX continues its everyday work in supporting NASA's missions to the International Space Station.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 24 Aug. 2025
Noun
Before welcoming William, the couple endured a six-year-long road to parenthood that included health issues for each of them in addition to their fertility struggles.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Fall in Michigan means less and less daylight as the season goes on and for many that signals the start of seasonal mental health struggles, though coping strategies can help, experts say.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Moura sees echoes between his country’s recent struggles and the United States’ own democratic challenges.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
Apple’s struggles with iPhone models in different years Apple has struggled in recent years to find a fourth iPhone model that resonates as strongly as the standard, Pro and Pro Max.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
My own experience, and my wife’s sacrifice, gave me empathy for those with financial struggles.
—Brian Walsh, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
The key to his performance is empathy — Early resists mocking Maddie or her struggles at every turn.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Despite this, she was told her struggles were likely psychological.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
New Delhi hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010 but logistical struggles have kept it from being a serious contender.
—Blythe Lawrence, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggles
Verb
-
The dejected actor stumbles over to a marketplace to buy a drink, shoplift a lighter, and strike out with a lottery ticket.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Every founder stumbles—some in a very public fashion.—
Samantha Reynolds,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Now retired, Andra loved her job working for the federal government and strives to make a difference in the world around her.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The brand strives to offer a premium denim look at prices more accessible than other premium denim brands.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
His court battles began in March, when he was detained after a traffic stop near his home in Beltsville, Maryland.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
-
But fan battles about the love triangle at the heart of the plot have only become more intense, insane, and borderline psychotic with each weekly episode release.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Thailand has been in political turmoil since, ever since deadly border clashes with Cambodian forces.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Meanwhile, his mercurial style and public controversies, from social media firestorms to clashes with regulators, have brought volatility to Tesla’s stock and reputation.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Still one of the NFL’s nastiest division rivalries, the game was full of skirmishes and a near-costly unnecessary roughness penalty late in the third against the Eagles that put the Cowboys in position to take the lead.—
Dan Gelston,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Premiering in 2011, the edgy comedy follows Annie Walker (Kristen Wiig) as her life unravels while serving as maid of honor for her best friend Lillian Donovan (Maya Rudolph), leading to a string of wedding planning mishaps and bridal party rivalries.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The bucks know there will be fights over the females.—
Chris McKeown,
The Enquirer,
30 Aug. 2025
-
None of those fighters are HOF material, but the way Lomachenko sliced them up (getting Walters, Rigondeaux, Miguel Marriaga and Jason Sosa to quit in back-to-back-to-back-to-back fights) was so impressive.—
Josh Katzowitz,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, Desmond Castle stands watch beyond the village park—its stone battlements and arrow slits recalling Norman skirmishes and feudal lords.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
-
Of all the conflicts Trump has involved himself in since returning to the White House, the skirmishes over a colonial-era border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia may be the smallest.—
Matthew Tostevin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The move was in response to a letter interim CHA Board Chair Matthew Brewer sent to the federal agency Wednesday that outlined Burnett’s potential conflicts.—
Lizzie Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Renken attributed the lack of work to his conflicts over funding and lab space in the early 2000s, according to the report.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Struggles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggles. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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