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
Relevance
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
as in failing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of struggling
Antonio Morales, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
The ever-paranoid Ally believes all of these headscratchers are part of a Trumpian conspiracy that's out to get her, but audiences were left struggling to connect the dots.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
But in the streaming era, Tranter says, there’s little more than a few privileged writers like him and a much wider swath of younger writers struggling to survive.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Intel is in early-stage talks to add AMD as a customer at Intel’s factories, in what would be another vote of confidence in the struggling chipmaker, according to people familiar with the matter.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2025
But internally, Artie is struggling, plagued by feelings of isolation and the constant thought that the world has gone mad.
—Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
Also written and produced by Thorne, Color Your Hurt follows a young gay man struggling for self-acceptance in a hostile community.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
Composer Deantoni Parks’s score sustains and amplifies the tension, heightening the creeping pretense of water rushing forward and the punishing breathlessness of struggling back upstream.
—Anne Reeve, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
Silvia faces the trauma of having been poisoned and closely manipulated, while Isabela deals with the aftermath of the accident and the blackmail, struggling with her guilt and the ongoing challenges of her addiction, though she is never taken into custody.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Maybe new additions will boost a struggling position group.
—Antonio Morales, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
The ever-paranoid Ally believes all of these headscratchers are part of a Trumpian conspiracy that's out to get her, but audiences were left struggling to connect the dots.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
But in the streaming era, Tranter says, there’s little more than a few privileged writers like him and a much wider swath of younger writers struggling to survive.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Intel is in early-stage talks to add AMD as a customer at Intel’s factories, in what would be another vote of confidence in the struggling chipmaker, according to people familiar with the matter.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2025
But internally, Artie is struggling, plagued by feelings of isolation and the constant thought that the world has gone mad.
—Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
Also written and produced by Thorne, Color Your Hurt follows a young gay man struggling for self-acceptance in a hostile community.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
Composer Deantoni Parks’s score sustains and amplifies the tension, heightening the creeping pretense of water rushing forward and the punishing breathlessness of struggling back upstream.
—Anne Reeve, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
Silvia faces the trauma of having been poisoned and closely manipulated, while Isabela deals with the aftermath of the accident and the blackmail, struggling with her guilt and the ongoing challenges of her addiction, though she is never taken into custody.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggling
Verb
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Ross and the unit's six other horses are responsible for helping the police handle crowd control, whether its amid the thousands stumbling through Lower Broadway or the rush of 65,000 fans entering or leaving Nissan Stadium for a Titans game.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
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In other words, Steve is a lot to play, and the Oscar-winner throws himself into every forlorn expression, every kindly mentoring session, every manic bit of rushing to and fro as chaos reigns around him, every stumbling step toward self-medicating into oblivion.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This is especially true for the young Latine children and families who are striving to learn the local language and customs of a country that’s already waging war against them.—
Priscilla Blossom,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
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Utah’s state government posted a message on its website this week that officials are monitoring events in Washington connected with national park funding and are striving to protect the national parks in Utah.—
Jeanne Bonner,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Maryland is still undefeated, but the best win was at floundering Wisconsin.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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While the Gators are floundering at 1-3, Texas is 3-1.—
Chase Goodbread,
The Tuscaloosa News,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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While such a scenario sounds potentially maudlin and manipulative, Lucero — who wrote the film from a personal place — never allows that to happen by making the characters complex and flawed, and laboring under real-life issues.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The department is working with an independent monitor to implement reforms and improve accountability.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Oct. 2025
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To promote what executives described as modern ways of working, Elanco changed blueprint plans several times over the course of half a decade.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 Oct. 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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What are Louisville and Kentucky leaders trying to achieve with all the road work downtown?—
Leo Bertucci,
Louisville Courier Journal,
5 Oct. 2025
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Reliever Luke Weaver melted down again, and then seemed lost trying to explain it postgame.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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Also, with most modern vehicles sharing platforms and automakers endeavoring to reduce costs by utilizing the same parts across various model lines and for extended periods, Drury said parts availability should not be a problem.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
Freep.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Struggling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggling. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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