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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Although dozens of campuses across the district have had new principals every couple years, Licata and his staff believe this new round of hires at many of the district’s most struggling schools will be the start of major stability. — Samuel O’Neal June 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 June 2026 Their goal is to release them back into the wild to help restore struggling populations. — Alex Lehnert, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026

Verb

An already struggling Twitter announced plans to shut it down in 2016. — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026 The shortfall is particularly serious because the United States and European partners are struggling to expand production. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026 Tua Tagovailoa has been in the spotlight, after starting last week and struggling through his first live opportunities with the offense. — Ajc Sports, AJC.com, 22 Aug. 2026 Emerging direct lithium extraction technologies are still struggling with downstream concentration costs, high energy consumption, and scale-up complexity. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026 In Bait, Ahmed stars as struggling actor Shah Latif, who flops in his audition to play James Bond and then becomes consumed by the quest to become the first Pakistani 007. — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 21 Aug. 2026 They were engaged before Panettiere gave birth to their daughter, Kaya, in 2014, but their relationship ended in 2018 when Panettiere gave up custody of Kaya while struggling with postpartum depression and addiction. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026 Similar to Abrams, the young shortstop had shown a knack for exceptional, highlight-reel plays while struggling with consistency. — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026 But Americans have been struggling to learn this lesson for decades. — Michael Kimmel, Time, 15 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for struggling

Adjective

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

Nothing that would actually stop a person, a child, a wheelchair or a stumbling drunk from going straight into the water.

— Joseph V. Sakran, Baltimore Sun, 15 Aug. 2026
Such a contrast to the wonderful Bootham Crescent, York’s home until 2020 and within stumbling distance of not only the famous Minster but all the city’s many other attractions.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of stumbling

Verb

Meanwhile, Wallis’ Angie is simply a resourceful single mother striving to get home to her 6-year-old daughter.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Improving our understanding of threat could guide the work of faith leaders striving for a more tolerant, pro-democratic role of faith in the public sphere.

— Paul Djupe, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of striving

Verb

While practicing for a sixth straight day, laboring in a heat index pushing 90 degrees, the Chiefs were bound to be a bit ill-mannered.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2026
Complicated births that require, for example, extended time laboring will now be differentiated and might cost more, while uncomplicated births will cost less.

— Camille A. Clare, STAT, 23 July 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

Equipment will continue working, account information won’t change, and pricing and current plans will stay the same.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Manning began her career at Fullscreen Media, working with digital creators to build multi-platform media businesses, develop original IP and structure cross-platform deals.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of working

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struggles

struggling

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“Struggling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/struggling. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of struggling

adjective

verb

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