struggled; struggling
ˈstrə-g(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to make strenuous or forceful efforts in the face of difficulties or opposition
struggling with the problem
struggles with her health
—often followed by to + a verbstruggling to survive
2
a
: to proceed with difficulty or with great effort
struggled through the high grass
struggling to make a living
b
: to try to move something with difficulty
struggled to lift the package
c
: to fight with someone in order to get something
They struggled with each other for the gun.
3
: to be failing : to be doing without success
is struggling in math class
a struggling artist
2
: a forceful effort or exertion : an act of strongly motivated striving
a struggle to make ends meet
a struggle for civil rights
3
: tussle sense 1
during the struggle the gun went off
Examples of struggle in a Sentence
Verb
He has been struggling with the problem of how to keep good workers from leaving.
They struggled for the right to vote.
She struggled up the hill through the snow.
She struggled to lift the package by herself, but it was too heavy.
He struggled to get free of the wreckage.
He's been struggling in math class for most of the year.
The team has continued to struggle in recent weeks.
He was living as a struggling artist in the city.
Noun
the struggle for civil rights
There was a struggle for the gun.
There was no sign of a struggle.
It was a struggle getting out of bed this morning.
Recent Examples on the Web
Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Test for the far right The anti-immigration, eurosceptic RN has so far struggled to make meaningful gains in municipal elections.
—Reuters, NBC news, 22 Mar. 2026
Steve Large, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
The reality is there wasn’t much in reserve in the middle, with it another struggle for Kel’el Ware.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for struggle
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Verb
Governments across the continent are struggling with stubborn insurgencies.
—Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Test for the far right The anti-immigration, eurosceptic RN has so far struggled to make meaningful gains in municipal elections.
—Reuters, NBC news, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
Now this artist, who is devoted to depicting the Chicano struggle, says removing Chavez from artwork may be the only choice.
—Steve Large, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
The reality is there wasn’t much in reserve in the middle, with it another struggle for Kel’el Ware.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for struggle
Cite this Entry
“Struggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/struggle. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
struggle
2 of 2 noun1
: fight entry 2 sense 1a, contest
a power struggle
2
: a violent or strenuous effort or exertion
a struggle to make ends meet
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