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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Recent Examples of struggles
News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
The chain’s anniversary comes as the restaurant industry struggles with declining traffic.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
He was asked pointedly if the move was to help alleviate Mikal Bridges’ struggles defending Tyrese Maxey (36 points) at the point of attack.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
In fact, an American Psychiatric Association report shows that one in four Americans struggles with a declining mood come wintertime.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 4 Jan. 2026
Diminished defense headlined the Lakers’ December struggles, but the offense was also out of sync during the Lakers’ 5-7 month.
—Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
Set in the summer of 2003, at an all-boys water polo camp as socially anxious twelve-year-old Ben (Everett Blunck) struggles to fit into a ruthless social hierarchy.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 2 Jan. 2026
Long a source of conflict, campaign fakery is now faster, cheaper and harder to spot as AI spreads and truth struggles to catch up.
—Philip Jankowski, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026
The Abyss crashes into the needle and our group on top of the tower struggles to hold on as the tower begins to tumble.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026
Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026
However, all but one Horned Frog who got in the game scored, and Campbell said the team’s scoring versatility matters even more when one of the team’s top scorers struggles.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Jan. 2026
Growing up in Baltimore, Davon Barbour was inspired by the struggles of his hometown and dedicated his career to helping downtown and dense urban areas thrive under pressure.
—Austin American Statesman, 12 Jan. 2026
In the directorial debut short Butterfly on a Wheel from Emmy-winning composer Trevor Morris, one young adult living with OCD and anxiety must face his fears to overcome his struggles.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 12 Jan. 2026
Since becoming a star in figure skating, she's been transparent with the public about her mental health struggles.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
The reality of Ferrari’s downturn in form, combined with Hamilton’s own struggles to click with the challenging SF-25 car, made for the least successful of his 19 seasons in F1.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Apple had previously delayed the update after development snags, part of broader struggles to introduce AI features.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
The struggles of being a parent and the struggles of your child are so understandably private.
—Rosemary Rossi, Variety, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
Haunted by her own traumas and hidden scars, Kitts struggles to piece together the clues and separate Raevyn’s madness from an even more troubling reality.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
The chain’s anniversary comes as the restaurant industry struggles with declining traffic.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
He was asked pointedly if the move was to help alleviate Mikal Bridges’ struggles defending Tyrese Maxey (36 points) at the point of attack.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
In fact, an American Psychiatric Association report shows that one in four Americans struggles with a declining mood come wintertime.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 4 Jan. 2026
Diminished defense headlined the Lakers’ December struggles, but the offense was also out of sync during the Lakers’ 5-7 month.
—Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
Set in the summer of 2003, at an all-boys water polo camp as socially anxious twelve-year-old Ben (Everett Blunck) struggles to fit into a ruthless social hierarchy.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 2 Jan. 2026
Long a source of conflict, campaign fakery is now faster, cheaper and harder to spot as AI spreads and truth struggles to catch up.
—Philip Jankowski, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026
The Abyss crashes into the needle and our group on top of the tower struggles to hold on as the tower begins to tumble.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026
Noun
The actors will deliver quotes from the artists, thereby giving viewers a better understanding of the process and struggles of artists, Challis Davy said.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026
However, all but one Horned Frog who got in the game scored, and Campbell said the team’s scoring versatility matters even more when one of the team’s top scorers struggles.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Jan. 2026
Growing up in Baltimore, Davon Barbour was inspired by the struggles of his hometown and dedicated his career to helping downtown and dense urban areas thrive under pressure.
—Austin American Statesman, 12 Jan. 2026
In the directorial debut short Butterfly on a Wheel from Emmy-winning composer Trevor Morris, one young adult living with OCD and anxiety must face his fears to overcome his struggles.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 12 Jan. 2026
Since becoming a star in figure skating, she's been transparent with the public about her mental health struggles.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
The reality of Ferrari’s downturn in form, combined with Hamilton’s own struggles to click with the challenging SF-25 car, made for the least successful of his 19 seasons in F1.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Apple had previously delayed the update after development snags, part of broader struggles to introduce AI features.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
The struggles of being a parent and the struggles of your child are so understandably private.
—Rosemary Rossi, Variety, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggles
Verb
-
Ennin gets up and stumbles down the block before collapsing next to a building.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
There’s a fine line between righteousness and self-satisfaction, and the second season, which premieres on HBO Max on January 8, frequently stumbles into the latter territory.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Through educational programs, community outreach and strategic resource management, the district strives to ensure sustainable groundwater supply for current and future generations.—
Claire Marks,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Zermatt strives to be a high-class mountain resort, but for active guests.—
Rick Steves,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The facility, which is surrounded by the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve, also has led to separate legal battles in federal court.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Soon the scene devolved into individual battles between officers and rioters.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The investigation into the killing of a US citizen by an ICE agent in Minneapolis this week is being complicated by clashes between federal and local officials, with the FBI taking control over the objections of Governor Tim Walz.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The powerful Sun clashes with Chiron by way of your chatter quadrant and your habit zone, encouraging you to address a tricky situation at work or in your neighborhood with courageous calm.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Anyone who has followed the devastating violence in California’s prisons knows that gang rivalries trigger a lot of the bloodshed.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
-
With the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers set to face off in Saturday nights' playoff game, some local couples are hoping love can overcome even the biggest of rivalries.—
Marissa Perlman,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
According to reports, there were fights in the snake-like queue that formed.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Town budgets, school boards, zoning fights, shoreline resilience — these are problems that punish purity.—
Robert T.F. Downes,
Hartford Courant,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Hundreds of thousands of civilians were displaced from their homes in both countries when border skirmishes broke out for the second time this year.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Dec. 2025
-
For more than a century, Thailand and Cambodia have contested sovereignty at various undemarcated points along their 817-kilometer (508-mile) land border – a dispute that has occasionally exploded into skirmishes and fighting.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The township is arguing that state law regarding government employee protections against lawsuits conflicts with federal court rulings.—
Laura A. Bischoff,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Similar false or misleading content has circulated during the Israeli-Palestine and Russia-Ukraine conflicts.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Struggles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggles. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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