struggled; struggling
ˈstrə-g(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to make strenuous or violent efforts in the face of difficulties or opposition
struggling with the problem
2
: to proceed with difficulty or with great effort
struggled through the high grass
struggling to make a living
2
: a violent effort or exertion : an act of strongly motivated striving
a struggle to make ends meet
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
Reuters 3 Min Ago, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2025
Other regional bank stocks also struggled amid the shakeup, with the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE) ending the week nearly 2% lower.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2025
In a struggle that eventually leads to Jayson holding Maeve hostage outside, Grasso musters strength and shoots Jayson in the head, in a small act of vengeance for Lizzie.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for struggle
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Verb
Outgoing hydrocarbons minister Alejandro Gallardo said last week that the state energy company was struggling to obtain foreign currency for fuel imports.
—Reuters 3 Min Ago, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2025
Other regional bank stocks also struggled amid the shakeup, with the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE) ending the week nearly 2% lower.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
The deck team’s struggle to keep their heads above water is starting to look like an endurance challenge.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2025
In a struggle that eventually leads to Jayson holding Maeve hostage outside, Grasso musters strength and shoots Jayson in the head, in a small act of vengeance for Lizzie.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for struggle
Cite this Entry
“Struggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/struggle. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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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