Meaning & use

struggle

verb·Everyday

To make a strenuous effort to do something difficult or to overcome a problem.

See it in a sentence

She struggled to lift the heavy box on her own.

The team struggled through the final quarter but held onto the lead.

A note on using this word

Struggle can describe physical effort, an internal difficulty, or a conflict, and is often followed by 'with' or 'to'.

Words with a similar meaning

strivegrapplewrestle

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. noun

A hard fight or great effort to achieve, resist, or overcome something.

Their struggle for independence lasted for over a decade.

Make it your own

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