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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of struggling
Alex Lehnert, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Adeel Hassan, New York Times, 18 May 2026
Across Oahu’s North Shore, an area famed for its big-wave surfing, the small farms that help supply the island’s food are struggling after back-to-back storms in March brought the state’s worst flooding in two decades.
—Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
People struggling with student loans, in particular, must often choose between covering today’s bills and saving for tomorrow.
—Mary Moreland, Fortune, 17 May 2026
These gigantic claws serve as precision tools designed to lock onto struggling prey in the canopy.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
There is something inherently cinematic and moving about a struggling person’s by-the-bootstraps journey to healing, with a lifetime’s worth of trials and tribulations.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 17 May 2026
The skit was fairly self-explanatory, as Ferrell portrayed Trebek while asking simple questions to struggling celebrities.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
At the time, the group had around two dozen employees and was struggling for financial stability.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
So, if your appliance isn’t cooling every room, or it's just been a while since your HVAC unit had maintenance, your system is likely struggling.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2026
Adjective
Their goal is to release them back into the wild to help restore struggling populations.
—Alex Lehnert, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Many libraries’ orders went unfulfilled, and all but the largest ones were left struggling to get popular titles to their patrons.
—Adeel Hassan, New York Times, 18 May 2026
Across Oahu’s North Shore, an area famed for its big-wave surfing, the small farms that help supply the island’s food are struggling after back-to-back storms in March brought the state’s worst flooding in two decades.
—Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
People struggling with student loans, in particular, must often choose between covering today’s bills and saving for tomorrow.
—Mary Moreland, Fortune, 17 May 2026
These gigantic claws serve as precision tools designed to lock onto struggling prey in the canopy.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
There is something inherently cinematic and moving about a struggling person’s by-the-bootstraps journey to healing, with a lifetime’s worth of trials and tribulations.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 17 May 2026
The skit was fairly self-explanatory, as Ferrell portrayed Trebek while asking simple questions to struggling celebrities.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
At the time, the group had around two dozen employees and was struggling for financial stability.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
So, if your appliance isn’t cooling every room, or it's just been a while since your HVAC unit had maintenance, your system is likely struggling.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggling
Adjective
-
The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.—
Noah Alcala Bach,
San Antonio Express-News,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In a video shared on Facebook by comedian Mike Goldstein, the man can be seen stumbling out of the bathroom while still fastening his belt.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
Arriving at Badlands National Park feels like stumbling upon Mars.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
Verb
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The world cracked open, and now everyone’s striving to fit the jagged pieces back into a box called civilized society.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
-
After the shocking results of the 2024 election, seven friends split between Black Democrats and Black Republicans gather for dinner to debate American politics, striving to find common ground over food, drinks, and laughter.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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Garden centers aren't giving a refund for a dying or dead plant but rather a discount on a new purchase.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The shadow of the Epstein scandal Starmer's government, despite a massive Labour majority in parliament, has struggled to lower the cost of living and kick start a floundering British economy — hampered albeit by the wars in Ukraine and Iran and their devastating impact on global energy prices.—
Frank Andrews,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
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Through the first seven games after the Red Sox’s coaching purge — which included hitting coach Peter Fatse, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson and major-league hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin — Boston’s offense is still floundering.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
3 May 2026
Verb
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Makar has played in every game this postseason, but was clearly laboring in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
20 May 2026
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Imagine a place of employment where everyone in the building is laboring to live out their childhood dream.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
10 May 2026
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
-
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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By late summer, as the government’s funding was set to run out again, Jeffries was working closely with Schumer to make sure that Democrats in the House and the Senate were in alignment.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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Across all of them, AI is working where the operating model was ready for it.—
Dennis Woodside,
Fortune,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Struggling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggling. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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