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
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
Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Arctic explorers, such as the British whaler William Scoresby, struggled to navigate expanding sea ice.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
The real beauty of sport lies in the continual struggle against imperfection, glaring weaknesses both inner and outer.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for struggle
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Verb
Food banks, pantries brace for impact Charitable organizations and the federal food benefits program are part of the safety net working to catch vulnerable families struggling to make ends meet and living paycheck to paycheck.
—Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Arctic explorers, such as the British whaler William Scoresby, struggled to navigate expanding sea ice.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
Tewes was fired due to her struggle with cocaine addiction, which only became public after the actress was already getting sober, Grady shared.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
The real beauty of sport lies in the continual struggle against imperfection, glaring weaknesses both inner and outer.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for struggle
Cite this Entry
“Struggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/struggle. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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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