as in failing
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Dissimilar Words
1
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
2
as in striving
to devote serious and sustained effort
the financially strapped couple struggled to make ends meet
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of struggling
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Acquired before last year’s trade deadline from the Colorado Rockies, Bird was quickly demoted after struggling in his initial Yankee stint.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2026
Star forwards Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-min thrashed the struggling visitors.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Far too many people are struggling to, to survive and certainly can't thrive paycheck to paycheck in this country, which should not be happening in the wealthiest country in the history of the world.
—Ford McCracken, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
Although the research covered all types of people who left the state, the differences were most notable for those who were struggling with affordability in California.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Across the price spectrum, retailers are struggling to maintain margins as costs rise and consumers become increasingly price sensitive amid inflationary pressures.
—Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2026
Michigan is trying to become the first Big Ten team to win the tournament since Michigan State in 2000, and dominated all season until struggling in the Big Ten Tournament, losing to Purdue in the title game.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
After the deaths of their parents in a car crash, the three Curtis brothers are struggling to navigate life on the edge of poverty in 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
Kazan, struggling to find a local cinematographer whose work appealed to him, lucked into hiring a living legend.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Acquired before last year’s trade deadline from the Colorado Rockies, Bird was quickly demoted after struggling in his initial Yankee stint.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2026
Star forwards Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-min thrashed the struggling visitors.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Far too many people are struggling to, to survive and certainly can't thrive paycheck to paycheck in this country, which should not be happening in the wealthiest country in the history of the world.
—Ford McCracken, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
Although the research covered all types of people who left the state, the differences were most notable for those who were struggling with affordability in California.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Across the price spectrum, retailers are struggling to maintain margins as costs rise and consumers become increasingly price sensitive amid inflationary pressures.
—Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2026
Michigan is trying to become the first Big Ten team to win the tournament since Michigan State in 2000, and dominated all season until struggling in the Big Ten Tournament, losing to Purdue in the title game.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
After the deaths of their parents in a car crash, the three Curtis brothers are struggling to navigate life on the edge of poverty in 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggling
Adjective
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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
Verb
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Occasionally, King’s assistants, a pair of bulky guys with law-enforcement backgrounds, offered the stumbling line a corrective shove.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Ducks started their trip up five points on Connor McDavid and company, but held just a three-point edge after stumbling 4-2 on Saturday.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As is often true of an Allbee play, cracks in the veneer open into chasms of striving, desire, betrayal and raw revelation.—
Steven Winn,
San Francisco Chronicle,
3 Apr. 2026
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Unlike Apollo, which focused on fast flags and footprints in a breakneck race against the Soviet Union, Artemis is striving for a sustainable moon base elaborate enough to satisfy even the most hard-core science fiction fans.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Garden centers aren't giving a refund for a dying or dead plant but rather a discount on a new purchase.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Ray has a sympathy for these floundering men, not as victims but as people relying on the wrong structures for support.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
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Trump reportedly sent her to help Ron DeSantis' floundering gubernatorial campaign.—
Doris Alvarez Cea,
Florida Times-Union,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That took hundreds of people within Apple laboring over technical details like the screen’s lamination and moisture rejection, according to a former Apple engineering leader.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
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Montiel, 62, said Chavez’s legacy continues to reverberate as the union has pushed for improved working conditions for people laboring in extreme heat, at times without adequate breaks or water.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
Verb
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This was, according to the charter, arguably the moment when OpenAI might stop competing with other companies and start working with them.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Eco effort This property honors the land around it, working with it and integrating its lava rock wherever possible.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Struggling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggling. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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