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
Synonyms
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
Gary Langer, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Netanyahu has struggled to maintain a hold over his fragile, right-wing governing coalition and its muddle of competing interests, whose collapse could spell the end of his leadership.
—Tara John, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
And when the reward doesn’t feel worth the struggle—or when things get hard—motivation crumbles.
—Akin Akinpelu, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for struggle 
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Verb
The party has struggled to appeal to members of racial and ethnic minority groups -- a reason to watch the Hispanic voter closely on Election Day.
—Gary Langer, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Netanyahu has struggled to maintain a hold over his fragile, right-wing governing coalition and its muddle of competing interests, whose collapse could spell the end of his leadership.
—Tara John, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
Finally, after 20 years of struggle, protests, court battles and even picketing the home of Warren Buffett, whose company had assumed ownership of the dams, an agreement was reached to demolish the dams.
—Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
And when the reward doesn’t feel worth the struggle—or when things get hard—motivation crumbles.
—Akin Akinpelu, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for struggle
Dictionary Entries Near struggle
Cite this Entry
“Struggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/struggle. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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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