struggle
Americanverb (used without object)
-
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.
verb (used with object)
-
to bring, put, etc., by struggling.
She struggled the heavy box into a corner.
-
to make (one's way) with violent effort.
verb
-
(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
-
(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
noun
-
a laboured or strenuous exertion or effort
-
a fight or battle
-
the act of struggling
-
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
-
strugglesimple
-
strugglessimple
-
have struggledperfect
-
has struggledperfect
-
am strugglingprogressive
-
are strugglingprogressive
-
is strugglingprogressive
-
have been strugglingperfect progressive
-
has been strugglingperfect progressive
Past
-
struggledsimple
-
had struggledperfect
-
was strugglingprogressive
-
were strugglingprogressive
-
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
Mother's Day Words: What Mothers Do
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Beowulf vocabulary
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
myPerspectives 7.1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Chinese AI executives have expressed concern that they will struggle to close the gap with the U.S. because Washington restricts China’s access to the world’s best chips and chip-making equipment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Between 1918 and his assassination in 1948, Gandhi fasted repeatedly - against religious violence, caste discrimination and political discord - turning the empty plate into one of the defining symbols of India's freedom struggle.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
Many IPOs struggle after coming to market, because a new issue’s shareholders are eager to sell at their first opportunity.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 16, 2026
They point to the company’s struggle to balance the conflicting demands of common shareholders, preferred stockholders and the broader bitcoin community.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
Sunny shrieked, which meant “I’d much prefer gardening to sitting around watching my siblings struggle through law books.”
From "The Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket
Real estate giants such as Evergrande, Country Garden and Vanke have also been plagued by debt struggles since 2020, when authorities narrowed access to credit in a bid to curb excessive borrowing and speculation.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
But even with their struggles, culminating in an 82-64 loss to Seattle on July 6, the Sparks responded well with consecutive home wins against Indiana and Chicago.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
But as telescopes and observations have become more precise, researchers have uncovered several puzzling features that the standard model struggles to explain.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
She says she struggles with overeating and cravings during her period.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
I love how the sky stays light right into evening, how Lake Michigan gets busy with sailboats and the heat ratchets up to the point that it’s almost impossible to recall the struggles of winter.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
England struggled to break down Norway's settled defensive shape but when Orjan Nyland's goal-kick landed at Anderson's feet, their 4-5-1 was disjointed.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
Coast Guard, meanwhile, has struggled with outdated ships, slower-than-expected production of new vessels, and a manpower shortage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Some brands, including Carl’s Jr., which began in California, have struggled in the state.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Amazon said Wednesday it will launch satellite internet services in South Africa, entering a market where rival Elon Musk's Starlink has struggled to secure regulatory approval.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
He could hear Strong Jonn pulling himself along behind, groaning with the effort as he struggled against the walls that pressed against his broad shoulders.
From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda
The private-equity industry is struggling to profitably unload companies, causing midlevel employees, dubious of their chances of receiving pay tied to deal performance, to jump ship.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Homes, schools, hospitals, and transport networks are struggling to cope with back-to-back heatwaves this summer, exposing how unprepared the UK is for climate change.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
Consumers, however, are still struggling with higher prices, although analysts played down the impact on Netflix when tariffs hit last year.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
Germany's flagship auto sector is struggling with issues including weak demand in Europe, US tariffs and fierce competition from China.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
But I still feel all weird from my conversation with Meadowlark earlier, and I’m struggling to enjoy it.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
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.
