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

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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 battle
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 rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another her staunchest supporters in her struggle for the office

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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
Chunks of hail fell from the sky as J struggled to tell volunteers where to go next over the noise. — Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026 Everyone knew Clancy was struggling Clancy’s mother, mother-in-law, sister, friends and co-workers testified that Clancy struggled with her mental health after giving birth to Callan, the youngest of her three children. — Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Noun
Getting the shots, the sets and the rhythm of the series has been the greatest challenge—the day-to-day struggle to achieve that level of quality and such a high standard. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026 The biennale was established in 1994 to commemorate the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, a deadly chapter in South Korea’s struggle against military rule, during which upwards of 2,300 South Korean civilians were estimated to have been killed. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for struggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggle
  1. stumble
  2. strive
  3. fight
  4. battle
  5. rivalry
  6. labor
  7. effort
  8. clash
Verb
  • Most critics of judicial supremacy stumble over the fact that a strong Court sometimes benefits their side.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Analysis from Zeki Data shows that where OpenAI and Anthropic are making gains in the AI talent market, Google DeepMind (and to some extent Meta) are stumbling.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • Perhaps that’s why the pair has striven to create fresh archetypes.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But a home that cannot absorb something deeply meaningful is striving for taste at the expense of inauthenticity.
    — Steven Weill, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of strive
Noun
  • Mayer had some early success with her jab, but Cameron increasingly took control as the fight progressed and landed the cleaner punches before hurting Mayer with a right hand in the eighth round.
    — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Metchie was very much on the bubble of the 53-man roster, and he was outperformed by his peers, even if not by much in this rock-fight of a contest.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of fight
Noun
  • The only intrigue at offensive line was the backup center battle between Hudson and Patrick.
    — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Naturally, with three more Salt Lake City wives at the Alter Ego Party, Gizelle is ready to further investigate why Lisa is in a battle with her whole cast.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of battle
Noun
  • Nattie challenged Jaida Parker to a submission match for Heatwave as their rivalry turned up a notch.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The handlers may represent rival schools, but those rivalries tend to stop at the kennel, pasture or habitat gate, especially when another mascot is sick, retiring or in need of support.
    — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of rivalry
Verb
  • Humans engaged user interfaces to command software and engage with outputs like dashboards, while APIs labored in the background.
    — George C. Lee II, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Thoroughly unimpressed by her suburban idyll, and evidently unmoved by her responsibilities as wife and mother, Denise labors in her basement on a novel whose protagonist wishes to forsake her family for a life in New York.
    — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of labor
Noun
  • Its architecture could contribute to future efforts involving inexpensive rockets produced in much larger quantities.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Poor Anton has been left out of the drama all day, an effort by Billie and Samir to prevent an already bad futzing from escalating to something severe, and that’s never where Anton likes to be.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of effort
Noun
  • Assertive Mars clashes with your ruler Saturn, highlighting tension around your home, family, or the amount of emotional labor each person carries.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The clash between Ossoff and Piker comes as members of the Jewish community in Atlanta have criticized the Jewish Democrat, largely over his votes to block certain arms sales to Israel.
    — Joseph Strauss, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of clash

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 2 Sep. 2026.

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