1
as in stumbling
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 striving
to devote serious and sustained effort
the financially strapped couple struggled to make ends meet
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in failing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of struggling
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Despite the additional funding, the Advocate pointed out that some TAC offices were already struggling—as of April 15, 2025, 239 were understaffed and 21 were unstaffed.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Alone in conversation with the struggling starting pitcher once thought to be a staff ace, Mendoza reiterated his belief in Manaea.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
County residents who are struggling to eliminate mosquitoes on their properties can request mosquito inspections, which Vector Control offers free of charge.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, the State Public Defender office is struggling to attract law school graduates who are discouraged by low pay and the demanding nature of public defender appointments while still paying off student loans.
—Margaret Shreiner, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Outfielder Jo Adell was out of the Angels’ lineup again on Tuesday, still struggling with symptoms of vertigo.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
By then, though, the sector was struggling.
—Ian King, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
But for students who have spent years—and significant financial sums—on their education, struggling to land one's first job may feel like a betrayal.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Apart from buying struggling retailers, Barnes & Noble has expanded its physical footprint.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Despite the additional funding, the Advocate pointed out that some TAC offices were already struggling—as of April 15, 2025, 239 were understaffed and 21 were unstaffed.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Alone in conversation with the struggling starting pitcher once thought to be a staff ace, Mendoza reiterated his belief in Manaea.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
County residents who are struggling to eliminate mosquitoes on their properties can request mosquito inspections, which Vector Control offers free of charge.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, the State Public Defender office is struggling to attract law school graduates who are discouraged by low pay and the demanding nature of public defender appointments while still paying off student loans.
—Margaret Shreiner, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Outfielder Jo Adell was out of the Angels’ lineup again on Tuesday, still struggling with symptoms of vertigo.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
By then, though, the sector was struggling.
—Ian King, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
But for students who have spent years—and significant financial sums—on their education, struggling to land one's first job may feel like a betrayal.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggling
Verb
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The episode ends with a surreal, graphic deepfake scene of a totally nude Donald Trump stumbling around a desert.—
Nick Marx,
The Conversation,
11 Sep. 2025
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Inside the agency, Dudek, ill-prepared for leadership or for DOGE’s murky agenda, was stumbling through the chaos in part by creating some of his own.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The occasion is an event held by the Women’s Coaching Alliance, a group striving to diversify football staffs.—
Seth Wickersham,
The Atlantic,
8 Sep. 2025
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Drown is now striving to be able to flip sleeping clients without waking them up.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The surprising exception is that the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and other Western countries are floundering.—
Robert B. Tucker,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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Domestic competitors were interested in acquiring the floundering manufacturing unit.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Chiefs players spent training camp laboring at hot, humid Missouri Western State University.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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During that season Clark was laboring to teach all his defensive linemen a new technique to use, and players would have to film themselves working on it, and send it into the coaches.—
Omar Kelly
August 23,
Miami Herald,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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At the same time, working collectively doesn’t always mean things move quickly.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
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What began as a chance to build a sales team and achieve financial independence turned into a mission to serve working families.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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While pruning, remove any winter damage, along with dead and declining growths, to allow new shoots to reform the plant.—
Tom MacCubbin,
orlandosentinel.com,
6 Mar. 2021
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In order to reopen, counties must demonstrate declining prevalence of COVID-19, testing ability of 30 tests per 10,000 residents per week, contact tracing and isolation facilities.—
Fox News,
Fox News,
15 May 2020
Verb
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Hit Man Based on an outrageous true story, Richard Linklater's 2024 action rom-com sees Glen Powell donning the many disguises of Gary Johnson, a New Orleans Police Department contractor who poses as a hitman to arrest those trying to hire him.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Panouses regularly fields inquiries from investors, scammers and people in need, all trying to reach his clients.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Also, with most modern vehicles sharing platforms and automakers endeavoring to reduce costs by utilizing the same parts across various model lines and for extended periods, Drury said parts availability should not be a problem.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
Freep.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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Beatrice is also the proud new patron of Borne, a medical research charity endeavoring to end premature birth.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Struggling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggling. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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