struggle 1 of 2

verb

ˈstrə-gəl How to pronounce struggle (audio)
Definition of strugglenext
1
as in to stumble
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to strive
to devote serious and sustained effort the financially strapped couple struggled to make ends meet

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

struggle

2 of 2

noun

1
as in fight
a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective a performer's long struggle to achieve success

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2
as in clash
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups there was a struggle between the armed robber and the shopkeeper, and the gun went off

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in battle
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another her staunchest supporters in her struggle for the office

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of struggle
Verb
Arsenal struggled to break down opponents that sat deep and asked the Gunners to find a way to goal. — Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025 Yet this new Klan version struggled to get started, and in spite of the less-than-liberal social leanings of America in the late 1910s, membership lagged. — Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
His season average has dipped from .276 to .265 during the stretch and his struggles have become a concern not only for the rest of the season, but for the future as well. — Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025 Having high profile people who presumably have access to resources talk about their struggles also is a reminder that these issues are hard for everyone. — Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for struggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggle
  1. stumble
  2. strive
  3. fight
  4. clash
  5. battle
  6. labor
  7. effort
  8. skirmish
Verb
  • The Wave have been fortunate that Orlando and Washington have also stumbled, keeping the gap small.
    — Fernando Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Indeed, the Braves overcame an early 5-1 deficit in the series opener Tuesday with four runs in the fourth inning to tie the score, only to give it right back on a night when Spencer Strider stumbled, tying a career high with eight runs allowed in four innings.
    — David O'Brien, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • At the same time, the agency strives to keep goods flowing smoothly at the points of entry.
    — Adam Stone, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The series has never strived to be anything more than opulent fluff, but it still gets consistently pilloried for its lack of realism.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
Definition of strive
Noun
  • Instead, dozens of weekly fight nights and four big events a year will be freely available to all Paramount Plus subscribers.
    — David Bloom, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • He was arrested three days after the fights and has been detained at the Hamilton County Justice Center.
    — Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 14 Aug. 2025
Definition of fight
Noun
  • However, those same clashes can be transformed into deeper connections with a little effort and understanding.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
  • When it has been used, the stealth fighter has generally remained far away from frontline clashes, intelligence reports from the British government indicated in early 2023.
    — Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
Definition of clash
Noun
  • Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking a judge to jail Beto O'Rourke, claiming the former Democratic congressman violated a court order by fundraising to support the dozens of state Democratic lawmakers who have fled the state amid its redistricting battle.
    — Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
  • The Defense Department has awarded BAE Systems’ shipyard in San Diego a $64.1 million contract for repairs, maintenance and upgrades on the USS O’Kane, a Burke-class destroyer that helped protect the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier battle group during a long deployment that ended in February.
    — Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
Definition of battle
Verb
  • In this way, AI allows PR folks to compare and contrast strategies quickly rather than laboring over a single version.
    — Daniel Lotzof, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • In the years since Trump pulled off his shocking upset victory over Hillary Clinton, the Democrats have been laboring under a series of myths about themselves and Trump that have compelled them to continue digging their own graves.
    — Isaac Schorr, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Definition of labor
Noun
  • Fundraising efforts and private donations made to the Kane County 4-H Foundation funded the scholarships.
    — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
  • An effort has been underway to increase the number of organ donors in Florida’s minority communities.
    — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025
Definition of effort
Noun
  • The only skirmish Wednesday was sparked by some trash-talking between Chuba Hubbard and Jenkins — yes, same Jenkins — and peaked when Jenkins threw a football at Hubbard’s helmet.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 9 Aug. 2025
  • Attorney: Separate skirmishes, no 'racist mob' Fox told The Enquirer that national and local voices have mischaracterized what actually happened.
    — Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 2 Aug. 2025
Definition of skirmish

Browse Nearby Words

structuring
struggle
struggled
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Cite this Entry

“Struggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggle. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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