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
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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of struggle
Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
Rob Crossan January 17, 2025 Marketed as a luxury tourist destination, the Maldives struggles with the legacy of an authoritarian government and the existential threat of climate change.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 23 May 2025
: Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
His arrival may be well-timed given the recent struggles by Yennier Cano and the closer (more below).
—Greg Jewett, New York Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for struggle
Verb
That built him a three-shot lead entering Sunday's final round.
Midway through his final 18, Scheffler was struggling.
—Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
Rob Crossan January 17, 2025 Marketed as a luxury tourist destination, the Maldives struggles with the legacy of an authoritarian government and the existential threat of climate change.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 23 May 2025
Noun
Opinion/Commentary Finalist: Robert Greene Feature Photography Winner: Robert Gauthier for a series of photos depicting the struggles of immigrants.
—: Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
His arrival may be well-timed given the recent struggles by Yennier Cano and the closer (more below).
—Greg Jewett, New York Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for struggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggle
Verb
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And then there are those, like Mia, who stumble on their birth families inadvertently.—
Barbara Demick,
New Yorker,
23 May 2025
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Per a fan video, at one point during the show, after spinning his microphone and tossing it towards the audience, Joel appeared to stumble, falling backwards and landing on his side.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Any journey toward elevating procurement performance should begin with a reflection on value, and CPOs must strive to balance supply security with driving cost optimization.—
Matthew Buckingham,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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Businesses should be able to write off the full expense of their capital investments in the year they are made, and the Senate should strive to cut spending elsewhere to balance out the revenue losses from making bonus depreciation permanent.—
The Editors,
National Review,
23 May 2025
Noun
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Fernandez’s defense attorney said a fight had broken out, and the dad ran across the street to check it out when his son ran after him and was hit.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2025
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This is not the first time a fight has broken out at a Disney park.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
3 June 2025
Noun
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The clash between Villaraigosa’s environmentalist credentials and oil-industry ties surfaced in the governor’s race after Valero announced in late April that its Bay Area refinery would close next year, not long after Phillips 66 said its Wilmington refinery would close in 2025.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2025
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Trump tests legal strategies as judges block his policies As the clash becomes a defining moment in the president's second term, conservative activists are pushing Congress to rein in federal judges and pressing Trump to intensify his fight with the courts.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
Noun
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Recently, a German court quietly ended a landmark legal battle that had spanned nearly a decade.—
Monica Sanders,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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Fires and recovery Crews battle fire burning in Pala, evacuations underway in northern San Diego County.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
Verb
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Halfway through his first term, Johnson is laboring diligently to shore up his support among Black voters.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2025
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Supreme Court justice calls it 'ridiculous' Trump cuts reach climate scientists who labored for free Melina Khan is a trending reporter covering national news for USA TODAY.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
Noun
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And this year, thousands of year-round and seasonal National Parks workers — including rangers, wildlife researchers and maintenance staff — have been fired and rehired as part of the DOGE efforts to slash the size of the federal government.—
Hailey Branson-Potts,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2025
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While his admission may seem like a slight, cracking the list of the league’s top 10 defenders each season is a difficult task, particularly for perimeter players whose efforts aren’t as well represented by defensive metrics.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
23 May 2025
Noun
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Nuñez warned that more skirmishes could occur on Sunday as PSG will parade on the Champs-Élysées before celebrating the title with their fans at the Parc des Princes stadium.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
1 June 2025
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Thailand and Cambodia have a long history of land disputes, though Thailand said after the short skirmish that the situation had been resolved.—
DAVID RISING,
Arkansas Online,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Struggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggle. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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