struggle
Americanverb (used without object)
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struggles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
struggled,
past participle, past
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struggling
present participle
-
to contend with an adversary or opposing force.
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to contend resolutely with a task, problem, etc.; strive.
to struggle for existence.
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to advance with violent effort.
to struggle through the snow.
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(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.
verb (used with object)
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struggles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
struggled,
past participle, past
-
struggling
present participle
-
to bring, put, etc., by struggling.
She struggled the heavy box into a corner.
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to make (one's way) with violent effort.
verb
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(intr; usually foll by for or against; may take an infinitive) to exert strength, energy, and force; work or strive
to struggle to obtain freedom
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(intr) to move about strenuously so as to escape from something confining
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(intr) to contend, battle, or fight
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(intr) to go or progress with difficulty
noun
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a laboured or strenuous exertion or effort
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a fight or battle
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the act of struggling
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the radical and armed opposition to apartheid, especially by the military wings of the ANC and the PAC
Usage
What are other ways to say struggle?
A struggle is a war, fight, conflict, or contest of any kind. How does struggle compare to brush and clash? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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strugglesimple
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strugglessimple
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have struggledperfect
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has struggledperfect
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am strugglingprogressive
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are strugglingprogressive
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is strugglingprogressive
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have been strugglingperfect progressive
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has been strugglingperfect progressive
Past
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struggledsimple
-
had struggledperfect
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was strugglingprogressive
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were strugglingprogressive
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had been strugglingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of struggle
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English struglen, stroglen, frequentative verb ( see -le) formed on a base of obscure origin
Explanation
Something that can only be accomplished with great effort is said to be a struggle. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a leader in the Civil Rights struggle. Alice Paul was a leader in the struggle for a woman's right to vote. The verb form of struggle can be used for physical or mental effort. A police officer might struggle trying to detain a criminal or a student may struggle with a difficult algebra problem. If you scramble and climb awkwardly up something, you can also use the verb struggle to describe the action: "They struggled up the icy hill over and over again, so they could keep sledding."
Vocabulary lists containing struggle
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Beowulf vocabulary
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myPerspectives 7.1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Richard Stephens, senior vice president for pharmacy at Costco, said the retailer has seen older people struggle with their coverage at the pharmacy counter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
"Last year was really a big struggle with a lot of difficult moments. To miss so many games because of injury was really frustrating," Odegaard said on Sunday.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
She also remembered Panettiere’s acting sensibilities at such a young age, writing that she “understood scenes and nuance and human struggle like no child I’d ever seen on camera.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
And every week, as the cafe's struggle becomes known, the queue for coffee gets longer.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
I now know that in times of strife, struggle, and spilled blood, we are never alone.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Kudler says the isolation of being aboard a ship, with moments of prolonged boredom followed by "extreme alertness", can amplify mental-health struggles.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
During a 2015 interview on “Live With Kelly and Michael,” Panettiere revealed why she understood Juliette’s struggles, and advocated for more discussion about postpartum depression.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
Floyd struggles with the idea that he is a good man, but, biologically, no one finds him attractive.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
“Dance to the Piper” recounts the struggles of a young woman entering the entertainment industry against the wishes of her family, who were well-established in Hollywood.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
He turns around and struggles to put it back in.
From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle
When filming began on “Lost Highway,” he struggled to find the right location for the home of the lead characters, Fred and Renee Madison.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
In July, Albertsons said it expected sales to fall this year after its core grocery business struggled in the most recent quarter due to a more cautious consumer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Her work is unlike anything I’ve seen this year, a ruthless and surprising turn from someone who’s struggled to find the right type of script for her unique style and physicality.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026
Wrobleski has struggled as of late, giving up 11 home runs over his past four starts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
Rowan drew breath, struggled to regain his feet.
From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda
Through the Yay Foundation, the former comedian has helped hundreds of people struggling with some form of mental health own their stories with stand-up.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
“I’m not struggling, but I’m not where I want to be,” Albano said.
From Salon ● Aug. 18, 2026
The small nonprofits left behind are nowvisibly struggling.
From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2026
Her co-star Justin Chatwin has shared how the actress was "struggling" on the set of the thriller in early 2025.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
He was struggling for words, trying to think of a polite excuse to leave.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
