as in failing
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1
as in stumbling
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in striving
to devote serious and sustained effort
the financially strapped couple struggled to make ends meet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of struggling
Nik Popli, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Always Greener, which scored 15 nominations on the annual Brit List, is a high concept script that follows a struggling artist, haunted by past failure, who is given a one-in-a-million chance to become his rich and successful doppelganger from a parallel universe.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Growing up a Jayhawks fan, left tackle Calvin Clements watched his fair share of struggling Kansas teams inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Voters in Texas overwhelmingly backed two constitutional amendments on Tuesday poised to offer property tax relief to homeowners in the state struggling with higher bills.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
To help shore up benefits for those who are struggling, some experts, including Boccia at the Cato Institute and Sprick at the Bipartisan Policy Center, say broader benefit reform is necessary.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Connery was no stranger to struggling to find work.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
That’s a strong selling point at a time when many organizations are struggling to find qualified candidates to fill security roles.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
Raisman knows how much a furry friend can help abuse survivors as well as people struggling with mental health challenges.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
Advertisement Her victory also carries national implications for Democrats, who are struggling to chart a path between progressive energy and centrist caution ahead of the 2026 midterms.
—Nik Popli, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Always Greener, which scored 15 nominations on the annual Brit List, is a high concept script that follows a struggling artist, haunted by past failure, who is given a one-in-a-million chance to become his rich and successful doppelganger from a parallel universe.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Growing up a Jayhawks fan, left tackle Calvin Clements watched his fair share of struggling Kansas teams inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Voters in Texas overwhelmingly backed two constitutional amendments on Tuesday poised to offer property tax relief to homeowners in the state struggling with higher bills.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
To help shore up benefits for those who are struggling, some experts, including Boccia at the Cato Institute and Sprick at the Bipartisan Policy Center, say broader benefit reform is necessary.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Connery was no stranger to struggling to find work.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
That’s a strong selling point at a time when many organizations are struggling to find qualified candidates to fill security roles.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
Raisman knows how much a furry friend can help abuse survivors as well as people struggling with mental health challenges.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggling
Verb
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Seven years of stumbling around.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
After stumbling into a massive camp full of refugees from Nilfgaard’s ongoing campaign, Geralt winds up witness to a witch trial.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Gidwani recommends striving for a blend of aerobic (cardio) exercise and strength training to optimize mitochondrial health.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
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That dynamic is something Sandriver is striving to correct.—
Naomi Rougeau,
Robb Report,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Moving forward, games that are either cheap to make or deemed more likely to generate significant revenue windfalls may take priority over riskier bets, said the people, while Xbox’s floundering hardware division may face a significant rethinking.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
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His father exists in the world, floundering about and getting high, but the larger and more potent existence that this man has, in your case, is in your stepson’s psyche.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Dodgers then knocked off the Giants in the NL Division Series, though Scherzer lost his Game 3 start – allowing three hits and a run on Evan Longoria’s game-deciding homer while laboring seven innings and 110 pitches.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
26 Oct. 2025
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With The Fulfillment, the sub-context is how clout culture is a currency, how attention itself has become a currency, just like our laboring bodies are.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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While pruning, remove any winter damage, along with dead and declining growths, to allow new shoots to reform the plant.—
Tom MacCubbin,
orlandosentinel.com,
6 Mar. 2021
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In order to reopen, counties must demonstrate declining prevalence of COVID-19, testing ability of 30 tests per 10,000 residents per week, contact tracing and isolation facilities.—
Fox News,
Fox News,
15 May 2020
Verb
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Of those, about 44,000 were working adults and 42,000 were working for an employer, according to the report.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
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Singaporean transit company ComfortDelGro, meanwhile, is working with Pony AI to explore offering robotaxis, while Lyft is collaborating with Baidu to test its Apollo Go self-driving cars in Europe.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Someone trying to keep the clicks coming to make a living, or a leader of the repressed?—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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My body’s in a C shape, trying to track the aim.—
Adam B. Vary,
Variety,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Skilled forgers started to catch on, endeavoring to cash in on that development.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
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But organizers are also endeavoring to create more structured career pathways for PAs, who do not have many clear options for career advancement.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Struggling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggling. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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