STRUGGLED Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

struggled

verb

past tense of struggle

as in stumbled

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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as in labored

to devote serious and sustained effort the financially strapped couple struggled to make ends meet

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of struggled Advertisement Ramaswamy has also struggled to navigate his identity as a Hindu and the son of immigrants from India in the modern GOP. — Philip Elliott, Time, 19 Oct. 2026 After the raid, his daughter struggled with recurring nightmares, the lawsuit said. — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026 The job could be physically demanding, the newspaper reported, and teaching associates sometimes struggled to explain their unusual profession to friends and relatives. — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 18 Oct. 2026 Still, Cornyn’s loss has remained an open wound for many Republicans in the state who have struggled to get over Paxton’s past scandals, said John Huffman, a former mayor of Southlake, Texas, and a Cornyn ally. — Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026 The Dallas Cowboys are 2-3 as their defense has once again struggled mightily this season. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 While guys such as Will Smith and Chris Stratton were key during the 2024 playoff run, the Royals have struggled to hit on reliable veteran help. — Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026 On a day that Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis threw two interceptions and lost a fumble and again generally struggled, coach Jeff Hafley said the turnovers are not acceptable and made clear the team’s sputtering passing game must be better. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026 Quarterback Jayden Maiava, who had struggled at times the last few weeks, completed 21 of 33 passes for 301 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. — Jordan Puente, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggled

Verb

Drew Rasmussen squandered a two-run lead on the mound, Tampa Bay's bullpen let the game get away and the Rays stumbled to a 7-3 loss against the Cleveland Guardians in their American League Championship Series opener Monday night.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Kore-eda stumbled on the manga in a bookshop rather than through its serial run.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of stumbled

Verb

Democratic politicians, bureaucrats and labor leaders, once rabble-rousers like Bass who nowadays seem to exist mostly to keep their sinecure, have labored mightily to convince unbelieving voters that Bass deserves another shot.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
The circumstances of Saint Michael’s help while the pilgrim labored and delivered in the ocean were markedly different from those in the miracle ascribed to the Virgin.

— Ellen O’Connell Whittet, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of labored

Verb

That pushes marketers toward ideas that have worked before, which is why, Smith says, so many ads look alike.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
To crack the uncrackable, Rittmann’s team worked alongside collaborators from Rice University, Tongji University, the National University of Singapore, and Nanjing University.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of worked

Verb

Though eventually abandoned due to cost, this system of surveillance endeavored to equate producers with virtue.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
Whatever people think of the film, it was endeavored to be made with purely with the process at its heart.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of endeavored

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struggle

struggled

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“Struggled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggled. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of struggled

verb

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