Synonyms of struggles

struggles 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of struggle

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

• stumbles
• blunders
• flounders
• shuffles
• trudges
• fumbles
• limps
• jogs
• lurches
• falters
• plods
• lumbers
• sways
• reels
• bumbles
• wallows
• shambles
• flogs
• staggers
• totters
• muddles
• welters
• teeters

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flies
• glides
• sails
• zooms
• coasts
• zips
• kilts

2

as in strives

to devote serious and sustained effort

the financially strapped couple struggled to make ends meet

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strives
• labors
• works
• endeavors
• tries
• toils
• slaves
• tugs
• travails
• hustles
• plows
• sweats
• humps
• digs (away)
• strains
• pegs (away)
• grubs
• bangs away
• plods
• slogs
• plugs
• fags
• drudges
• moils
• beavers (away)
• sweats blood
• attacks
• hammers (away)
• applies (oneself)
• buckles (down)
• exercises
• pitches in
• drives
• knuckles down
• exerts
• scratches
• essays
• digs in
• grinds (out)
• ekes out
• overworks
• wades
• trudges
• overexerts
• scrabbles
• puts out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• breaks
• eases (up)
• slackens
• lets up
• slacks (off)
• shirks
• hangs (around or out)
• rests
• goofs (off)
• chills
• loafs
• lounges
• goldbricks
• dillydallies
• plays
• bums
• unwinds
• dallies
• hacks (around)
• lazes
• idles
• basks
• reposes
• hangs
• relaxes
• dabbles
• footles
• lolls
• fools around
• hangs about
• messes around
• fribbles
• goofs (around)
• doodles
• trifles
• vegges out
• putters (around)
• potters (around)
• monkeys (around)

struggles

2 of 2

noun

plural of struggle

1

as in battles

a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective

a performer's long struggle to achieve success

Synonyms & Similar Words

• battles
• fights
• efforts
• frays
• throes
• works
• attempts
• pains
• scrabbles
• tries
• troubles
• toils
• endeavors
• exertions
• travails
• grinds
• wars
• conflicts
• tussles
• labors
• sweats
• contests
• drudgeries
• combats
• strifes
• essays
• warfares

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

• clashes
• fights
• battles
• skirmishes
• tussles
• scuffles
• conflicts
• dustups
• brawls
• frays
• contests
• confrontations
• scrimmages
• altercations
• combats
• scraps
• duels
• fracases
• blows
• hassles
• quarrels
• pitched battles
• disputes
• scrums
• squabbles
• battles royal
• controversies
• broils
• tangles
• mix-ups
• wrangles
• disagreements
• fistfights
• melees
• rough-and-tumbles
• grapples
• spats
• affrays
• misunderstandings
• slugfests
• punch-outs
• fisticuffs
• ruckuses
• jousts
• rows
• ructions
• donnybrooks
• contretemps
• tiffs
• arguments
• punch-ups
• fallings-out
• catfights
• cross fires
• handgrips
• kickups
• face-offs
• free-for-alls
• argle-bargles
• argy-bargies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truces

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

• battles
• rivalries
• conflicts
• confrontations
• contentions
• duels
• competitions
• wars
• matches
• contests
• warfares
• clashes
• strifes
• grapples
• combats
• ball games
• dogfights
• sweepstakes
• tugs-of-war
• showdowns
• debates
• disputes
• face-offs
• horse races
• frictions
• disputations
• controversies
• quarrels
• disagreements
• collisions
• arguments
• discords
• wrangles
• nail-biters
• dissensions
• rows

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• harmonies
• concords
• peaces

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of struggles

Verb

Special teams struggles a bit Kicker Zane Gonzalez missed a 43-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter, extending the special teams issues for the Dolphins on a day when special teams seemed to be doing OK. — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026

This provides a specialized foundation if your student struggles primarily with math. — Karen Koehler, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026

His arrival triggers a host of unresolved tensions among the three generations while Amanda struggles to restore her grandfather’s will to live. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026

Los Angeles also struggles with an ongoing homelessness crisis — filthy encampments and rows of rusting RVs are a common sight in many neighborhoods. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026

The sequel picks up in 1949, two years after the events of Minus One, as Japan struggles to rebuild from the devastation of war and Godzilla’s attack. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 1 Nov. 2026

The one who struggles the most is Clara, who makes venison pies that look like deer. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026

The government maintains its power through repression, while the country struggles to move forward. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026

Sometimes, though, a team simply struggles to find its footing. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Noun

Amid Butker’s recent struggles, the Chiefs signed veteran Justin Tucker to the practice squad Wednesday, giving Kansas City another option while providing additional competition for its longtime kicker. — Pete Sweeney november 2, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026

Centered in large part around the Warsaw Ghetto, the novel brought to life the daily struggles, fears, and remarkable courage of Jewish families living under unimaginable conditions. — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026

In the neighborhoods near Camping World Stadium, academic struggles often begin early, with most youngsters starting kindergarten ill-prepared for their first reading lessons. — Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026

Thornton’s struggles, the Frederique injury and Dunnigan’s emergence have resulted in Fitzgerald playing cornerback instead of safety for most of the season. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026

Durbin has a long-game strategy on immigration reform that draws from these earlier struggles. — John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

The starting center’s work helped Brooklyn withstand its shooting struggles, and the Pacers’ attempts to turn a close game into another uncomfortable finish. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026

BlackBerry shares have surged 142% in 2026, following years of struggles for a company whose formerly ubiquitous handhelds with physical keyboards ruled the smartphone world before Apple's iPhone and other devices that were fully touchscreen. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026

Despite some further, back-breaking struggles with ball security. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026