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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of struggles
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
If John does agree to explore his options in politics, things will get worse for Carolyn, who struggles to keep a brave face in light of the scrutiny that is hitting her from all sides.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Quickly, everyone form an impenetrable mass in front of the four feet of bar while the solitary bartender struggles to hear anyone’s order!
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Voices are generally loud and clear, but the phone sometimes struggles to filter out background noise, making conversations tricky to hear.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
Through favors and coercion, both couples vie for the approval of the elitist club’s Korean billionaire owner, Chairwoman Park (Youn Yuh-hung), who struggles to manage her own scandal involving her second husband, Doctor Kim (Song Kang-ho).
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
According to the union, about 40% of the Charlotte airport’s workforce struggles to find stable housing.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026
The demonstrations reflect growing frustration as the country struggles with electricity outages, food shortages, and deteriorating living conditions.
—Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
But rival Target reported earlier this week another quarterly decline in profits and sales during the critical holiday period as the discounter struggles with its own merchandising missteps and confronts a consumer who is focusing more on essentials.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
While the film’s production struggles have come under scrutiny, the trailer gives a taster of the Saudi Arabia’s stunning backdrops as well as its cinema ambitions.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
The company's lawyer, Paul Schmidt, said earlier this month that the core question in the case is whether the platforms were a substantial factor in Kayley's mental health struggles.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
The tens of thousands of California educators who have taken to the streets or are considering it are united in their struggles — teachers are struggling to keep up with California’s high cost of living and increasing health care costs.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Newsom’s book presents him as a man who’s overcome struggles, including academic difficulties and the hurdles his single mom faced.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Some commentators have even refused to use Kobabe’s correct pronouns—an omission that directly echoes struggles depicted in the memoir itself.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
And one of the big early adopter struggles was charging because the Tesla supercharger network existed.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 12 Mar. 2026
Buzelis was discouraged by his struggles to find his shot amid a losing streak that had stretched to nine games.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
However, the study shows that VQE frequently struggles to handle them accurately.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
If John does agree to explore his options in politics, things will get worse for Carolyn, who struggles to keep a brave face in light of the scrutiny that is hitting her from all sides.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Quickly, everyone form an impenetrable mass in front of the four feet of bar while the solitary bartender struggles to hear anyone’s order!
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Voices are generally loud and clear, but the phone sometimes struggles to filter out background noise, making conversations tricky to hear.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
Through favors and coercion, both couples vie for the approval of the elitist club’s Korean billionaire owner, Chairwoman Park (Youn Yuh-hung), who struggles to manage her own scandal involving her second husband, Doctor Kim (Song Kang-ho).
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
According to the union, about 40% of the Charlotte airport’s workforce struggles to find stable housing.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026
The demonstrations reflect growing frustration as the country struggles with electricity outages, food shortages, and deteriorating living conditions.
—Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
But rival Target reported earlier this week another quarterly decline in profits and sales during the critical holiday period as the discounter struggles with its own merchandising missteps and confronts a consumer who is focusing more on essentials.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
In a briefing with reporters earlier, a Meta legal spokesperson said the company didn't believe that youth mental health struggles, both broadly and with Kaley specifically, could be solved through litigation.
—Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
While the film’s production struggles have come under scrutiny, the trailer gives a taster of the Saudi Arabia’s stunning backdrops as well as its cinema ambitions.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
The company's lawyer, Paul Schmidt, said earlier this month that the core question in the case is whether the platforms were a substantial factor in Kayley's mental health struggles.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
The tens of thousands of California educators who have taken to the streets or are considering it are united in their struggles — teachers are struggling to keep up with California’s high cost of living and increasing health care costs.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Newsom’s book presents him as a man who’s overcome struggles, including academic difficulties and the hurdles his single mom faced.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Some commentators have even refused to use Kobabe’s correct pronouns—an omission that directly echoes struggles depicted in the memoir itself.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
And one of the big early adopter struggles was charging because the Tesla supercharger network existed.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 12 Mar. 2026
Buzelis was discouraged by his struggles to find his shot amid a losing streak that had stretched to nine games.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggles
Verb
-
In 1972, Hannes (Enzo Brumm), a gangly farm boy adrift in a hedonistic haze of hormones and counterculture, stumbles upon a revelation through his contact with a love interest’s geranium.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The woman continues to scream as Jones stumbles in the street and Charles asks him multiple more times to drop the knife.—
Kellie Love,
Hartford Courant,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sweeney plays Undine Spragg, a fiercely ambitious woman from the Midwest who strives for the social heights of turn-of-the-century New York.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
-
As the agency continues to grow, strengthening its infrastructure, TSD strives to preserve the intimacy that first defined those early kitchen-table sessions.—
Contributor,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Comfort battles formality fighting to break free.—
Julissa James,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
For example, one recent night, the room between Cardboard Corner Café and TableTop was set up for Warhammer, where enthusiasts collect, build, and paint miniatures, and fight strategic tabletop battles.—
Debra Skodack,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The train, which was originally slated to open in 2023, has faced significant delays caused by clashes between the airport and contractor, LAX Integrated Express Solutions, over timeline, compensation and production.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were arrested in connection with the device at Saturday’s chaotic rally, which saw clashes between Lang and counterprotesters outside the Upper East Side mayoral residence of Mayor Mamdani.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Despite long-standing rivalries among senior Iranian politicians — many of whom hold powerful political positions and control significant economic resources — these factions quickly set aside their differences and pledged loyalty to him.—
Pegah Banihashemi,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
-
So many of these issues are driven by issues of governance, economic competition, and various regional rivalries, which sometimes play out through proxy groups.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some injuries stemmed from fights between detainees, including a man who said he had been kicked in the ear and battered in his ribs.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Some injuries stemmed from fights between detainees, including a man who said he had been kicked in the ear and battered in his ribs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The two also got into multiple skirmishes back in December during a recent Lakers-Suns game, including James knocking down Brooks after some contact from the NBA's all-time leading scorer.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Enrigue’s novel is inspired by the long-running Apache Wars of the 19th century, a series of brutal skirmishes between various Apache bands and the armies of the United States and Mexico.—
Carolina A. Miranda,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Struggles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggles. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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