STRUGGLING Synonyms: 147 Similar and Opposite Words

struggling 1 of 2

adjective

as in failing

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struggling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of struggle

as in stumbling

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in striving

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 struggling

Adjective

In The Idol Depp plays Jocelyn, a struggling pop star who becomes entangled with manipulative, sleazy nightclub owner Tedros (Tesfaye). — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026 Licata and Fort Worth ISD’s Board of Managers implemented the Elevate model for the district’s most struggling campuses shortly after they were appointed to their jobs by the Texas Education Agency as part of its takeover of the district. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026 Their goal is to release them back into the wild to help restore struggling populations. — Alex Lehnert, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026

Verb

But while most young people are struggling to land their first opportunity, some have jumped the line by building their own small businesses and startups—and young founders are now ramping up hiring even as companies across industries slow theirs. — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 The film includes flashbacks to his time in the war and features a parallel story about his young carer struggling to make ends meet. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 Created by Jake Farrow and Samantha Martin, the series follows Trina Vega (Daniella Monet reprising her role) as a struggling actress stuck in the shadow of her superstar sister, Tori (Victoria Justice). — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 After Monday night’s defeat by the Buffalo Bills, the Rams on Tuesday released struggling kicker Harrison Mevis, and signed Blake Grupe. — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Dallas has tried just about everything to fix its struggling defense. — Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 The news comes as the Eagles, who are 2-3 this season, are struggling with several injuries. — Laura Fay, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 Mitchell-Namdar said Pink Aid’s mission is to provide emergency aid assistance to those struggling during treatment, whether that means paying an electric bill, rent, offering wigs or lymphedema sleeves. — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026 She's been homeless and struggling for years and in and out of prison. — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggling

Adjective

The World Bank, International Monetary Fund and International Criminal Court, which all got failing grades in last year's survey, saw the biggest gains.

— Andrea Shalal, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026
The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.

— Noah Alcala Bach, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Jan. 2026

Definition of failing

Verb

Big banks made changes to overdraft fees and fraud protections following previous testimony, for example, while former Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf abruptly resigned in 2016 after stumbling during hearings on the bank’s fake accounts scandal.

— Reuters, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026
In an era of geotags and influencers, there’s something deeply satisfying about stumbling upon a place that still feels like a secret.

— Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of stumbling

Verb

And those striving for zest under these circumstances may benefit from assistance from a mental health professional like a psychologist, a physical health provider like a physician, or a personal trainer or fitness instructor.

— Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
There was a phone booth across the street where striving actors would take calls from their agents, before cell phones.

— Sam Kashner, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of striving

Verb

Google seemed hopelessly far behind, while Meta, despite spending billions to revive its floundering AI ambitions, had yet to establish itself as a serious contender.

— Robert Hart, The Verge, 14 Oct. 2026
The unrest has fired the starting gun on what promises to be a vicious race between the far right and far left for the presidency, with much of the center floundering in the polls.

— Melissa Bell, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of floundering

Verb

Strange, yes, but definitely more memorable than an accountant in green eyeshade laboring over the books.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
And workers have now spent over 1 million hours laboring on an infrastructure project whose price tag has surpassed $900 million.

— Robert Tann, Denver Post, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of laboring

Adjective

While pruning, remove any winter damage, along with dead and declining growths, to allow new shoots to reform the plant.

— Tom MacCubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 6 Mar. 2021
In order to reopen, counties must demonstrate declining prevalence of COVID-19, testing ability of 30 tests per 10,000 residents per week, contact tracing and isolation facilities.

— Fox News, Fox News, 15 May 2020

Definition of declining

Verb

Walsh will contribute across collection development, campaign concepts, styling, brand imagery and creative storytelling, working alongside the Rebecca Taylor team.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Phillips is working from a script by Jordan & Justin Shipley, creators of the TBS comedy Wrecked, with a rewrite by Phillips & frequent collaborator Gene Stupnitsky, who’s producing through his Big Name Entertainment banner.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of working

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struggles

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

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Synonyms of struggling

adjective

verb

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