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
Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Mar. 2026
Dogs generally aren’t allowed on cruises, but after struggling to find a flight that would allow pets in the cabin, Morris decided to bring Monty across the pond in the storied ocean liner’s kennels – one of the only ways cruise travelers' furry friends can sail the high seas.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 8 Mar. 2026
If your lawn is struggling from summer heat, weeds, or drought, reseeding can revitalize it and help make your lawn look thick and lush.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026
By the middle of 2025, Candelario was again struggling so much that the Reds released him, still owing him half of that contract.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 8 Mar. 2026
Yet two of his top priorities – funding for struggling rural counties and money for school vouchers – appear dead as Perez has no intention of taking up those items.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
The people in his life are still struggling with the betrayal.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
In the aftermath of the 2007-09 Great Recession, Warsh — then a Fed governor — objected to some of the central bank’s efforts to help the struggling economy by pushing down rates even though unemployment exceeded 9%.
—Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Illinois is not alone in struggling with turnout.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Verb
No workers for mundane tasks Diez revealed that manufacturers worldwide are struggling to find laborers for highly repetitive physical tasks.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Mar. 2026
Dogs generally aren’t allowed on cruises, but after struggling to find a flight that would allow pets in the cabin, Morris decided to bring Monty across the pond in the storied ocean liner’s kennels – one of the only ways cruise travelers' furry friends can sail the high seas.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 8 Mar. 2026
If your lawn is struggling from summer heat, weeds, or drought, reseeding can revitalize it and help make your lawn look thick and lush.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026
By the middle of 2025, Candelario was again struggling so much that the Reds released him, still owing him half of that contract.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 8 Mar. 2026
Yet two of his top priorities – funding for struggling rural counties and money for school vouchers – appear dead as Perez has no intention of taking up those items.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
The people in his life are still struggling with the betrayal.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
In the aftermath of the 2007-09 Great Recession, Warsh — then a Fed governor — objected to some of the central bank’s efforts to help the struggling economy by pushing down rates even though unemployment exceeded 9%.
—Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Illinois is not alone in struggling with turnout.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 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
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The man then tripped, stumbling to the ground.—
Andrew Adeolu,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
How Species Actually Get Discovered Now The popular image of species discovery involves an explorer stumbling across a strange creature in an untouched jungle.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Midway through Ramadan, Muslims across the United States are striving to maintain the holy month’s traditional mix of prayers and festive spirit under a cloud of worrisome events.—
Luis Andres Henao,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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Figure on an almost completely different combination striving to finish games in August and September.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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 overall focus was overwhelmingly on fixing China’s floundering economy, with action to tackle unemployment, a depressed real estate market, and boosting innovation.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
6 Mar. 2026
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But internally, the team was floundering.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Imagine living in the dictatorship of North Korea, hungry all the time, laboring for no pay.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
8 Mar. 2026
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The son of a medical-gas plumber who worked night shifts, Darnold just kept laboring at his craft.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
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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China’s biggest chain of eye hospitals is working with an adviser on the share sale, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private.—
Julia Fioretti,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
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The papers allege that his working hours at the school and with the city overlapped.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Struggling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggling. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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