struggle
[struhg-uh l]
- to contend with an adversary or opposing force.
- to contend resolutely with a task, problem, etc.; strive: to struggle for existence.
- to advance with violent effort: to struggle through the snow.
- (of athletes and competitors) to be coping with inability to perform well or to win; contend with difficulty: After struggling for the whole month of June, he suddenly caught fire and raised his batting average 30 points.
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- to bring, put, etc., by struggling: She struggled the heavy box into a corner.
- to make (one's way) with violent effort.
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- the process or an act or instance of struggling.
- a war, fight, conflict, or contest of any kind.
- a task or goal requiring much effort to accomplish or achieve.
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Origin of struggle
1350–1400; Middle English struglen, stroglen, frequentative v. (see -le) formed on a base of obscure origin
Synonyms
See more synonyms for struggle on Thesaurus.com1. oppose, contest, fight, conflict. 7. endeavor, exertion. 8. encounter, skirmish. Struggle, brush, clash refer to a hostile meeting of opposing persons, parties, or forces. Struggle implies vigorous bodily effort or violent exertion: a hand-to-hand struggle. A brush is a brief, but smart, and often casual combat: a brush between patrols. Clash implies a direct and sharp collision between opposing parties, efforts, interests, etc.: a clash of opinions.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for struggled
Contemporary Examples
Morris struggled to straighten his back, which involved stiffening a spine rarely used.
Though researchers have struggled to understand exactly what contributes to this gender difference, Dr. Rohan has one hypothesis.
But as a nutrition-obsessed senior at Brown University, he struggled to find a protein bar he actually liked.
She struggled to concentrate on crossword puzzles and read books, so she just watched television.
One male student told me about a teammate in a fraternity who struggled with an eating disorder.
Historical Examples
Philæmon averted his face for a moment, and struggled hard with his feelings.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
After the captain left him, he struggled hard to unloose the cords which bound him.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
I remembered the object of my visit, and struggled for composure.
She struggled for a second in his arms, and received his kiss with a little laugh.
VivietteWilliam J. Locke
Cassidy struggled with all his pride against the dominant fury this man hurled on him.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
struggle
- (intr; usually foll by for or against; may take an infinitive) to exert strength, energy, and force; work or striveto struggle to obtain freedom
- (intr) to move about strenuously so as to escape from something confining
- (intr) to contend, battle, or fight
- (intr) to go or progress with difficulty
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- a laboured or strenuous exertion or effort
- a fight or battle
- the act of struggling
- the struggle Southern African the radical and armed opposition to apartheid, especially by the military wings of the ANC and the PAC
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Word Origin
C14: of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for struggled
struggle
v.
late 14c., probably a frequentative form, of uncertain origin. Skeat suggests Old Norse strugr "ill will;" others suggest a connection to Dutch struikelen, German straucheln "to stumble." Related: Struggled; struggling.
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struggle
n.
1690s, from struggle (v.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper