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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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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
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Recent Examples of struggle
Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 16 Feb. 2025
But that could drive a surge of low-value goods into the international mail, where CBP has struggled to effectively screen parcels and comply with legislation aimed at stopping fentanyl trafficking.
—Laura Gottesdiener and Stephen Eisenhammer, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
Alexandra Alter, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025
Courting Trump Modi offered quick tariff concessions ahead of his visit, with New Delhi slashing duties on high-end motorcycles—a boost to Harley-Davidson, the iconic U.S. manufacturer whose struggles in India have irked Trump.
—Afp, Fortune Asia, 14 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for struggle 
Verb
The Broncos struggled with turnovers from the tip-off but stayed in the game by forcing similar issues out of the Aztecs.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 16 Feb. 2025
But that could drive a surge of low-value goods into the international mail, where CBP has struggled to effectively screen parcels and comply with legislation aimed at stopping fentanyl trafficking.
—Laura Gottesdiener and Stephen Eisenhammer, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
Noun
Still, surviving as a small press has often been a struggle.
—Alexandra Alter, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025
Courting Trump Modi offered quick tariff concessions ahead of his visit, with New Delhi slashing duties on high-end motorcycles—a boost to Harley-Davidson, the iconic U.S. manufacturer whose struggles in India have irked Trump.
—Afp, Fortune Asia, 14 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for struggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggle
Verb
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Liv hesitates, does awkward stumble toward her, drops head onto Sally’s shoulder.—
George Saunders,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2025
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But after entering the All-Star break holding a Wild Card, Boston stumbled almost immediately in the second half.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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While its commitment is to always strive to do the right thing, in the right way, the company acknowledges that mistakes can happen.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
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Local kids grow up striving to play football under the Friday lights, but most won’t be wearing helmets.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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But that message was undermined by his company’s fight against TVC.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2025
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The incident may have started as a fight inside a local McDonald’s restaurant, which then spilled out onto the street, according to a police source.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
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That grievance total was the second-highest tally since 2016, according to a USA TODAY Network analysis, suggesting current economic conditions and corporate policies are fueling more clashes over insurance coverage.—
David Robinson,
USA TODAY,
7 Feb. 2025
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Members of the Congolese Red Cross and civil protection workers bury dozens of victims of the recent clashes at a cemetery in Goma on Tuesday.—
Reuters,
NBC News,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The podcast's release comes amid Baldoni's ongoing legal battle with Lively.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
11 Feb. 2025
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O'Toole is overseeing the legal battle over Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's death sentence.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Last year, President Joe Biden and presidential candidate Kamala Harris labored to persuade voters that the historic inflation surge of 2022 was over, and that rising wages had effectively erased its effects.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA TODAY,
13 Feb. 2025
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Should Trump be certified, unless the disability is relieved his administration will labor under a cloud of illegitimacy.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
27 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Instead, her life was turned upside down last week after President Donald Trump’s administration began instituting mass layoffs as part of an aggressive effort to trim the federal workforce.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA TODAY,
17 Feb. 2025
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Tyson and Flair can often be seen at dispensaries, cannabis trade shows and events, all in an effort to promote their growing brands.—
Will Yakowicz,
Forbes,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The move immediately became a key skirmish in Mr. Musk’s wider war on the federal bureaucracy.—
Chris Cameron,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2025
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The development is just the latest skirmish in a decades-long war that cyclists have waged to legally ride the trails in mountain biking’s birthplace.—
Maureen Gaffney,
Outside Online,
30 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near struggle
Cite this Entry
“Struggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggle. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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