Struggle (Verb)
Meaning 1
Climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling.
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Examples
- She had to struggle up the steep and rocky hill to reach the top.
- The kids struggle to get back onto the inflatable raft after falling off.
- The hikers struggle through the dense underbrush in the forest.
- He would struggle to get to his seat as the aisle was too narrow.
- The diver struggle to resurface after the deep dive.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
Be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight; "the tribesmen fought each other"; "Siblings are always fighting"; "Militant groups are contending for control of the country".
Classification
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities.
Examples
- The two siblings struggle for control of the television remote.
- Many militant groups struggle for power in the war-torn country.
- The rival armies struggle during the battles of the civil war.
- Tribal groups struggle over the limited water resources in the region.
- Activists struggle against government repression and corruption.
Synonyms
Hyponyms
- Wage
- Scuffle
- Battle
- Engage
- Spar
- Bear Down
- Duel
- War
- Attack
- Get Back
- Feud
- Fight Back
- Bandy
- Tussle
- Box
- Fight Down
- Assail
- Skirmish
- Fistfight
- Joust
- Settle
- Oppose
- Tug
- Fight
- Chicken-fight
- Tourney
- Join Battle
- Fence
- Defend
- Combat
- Chickenfight
- Wrestle
Related Words
Meaning 3
To exert strenuous effort against opposition; "he struggled to get free from the rope".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- She struggled to lift the heavy box onto the table.
- The child struggled to put on his coat by himself.
- The dog struggled to free itself from the leash.
- The team struggled to score against their strong opponents.
- He struggled to stay awake during the long and boring lecture.
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 4
Make a strenuous or labored effort; "She struggled for years to survive without welfare"; "He fought for breath".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The hikers struggled through the dense forest, fighting against the raging torrent of the swollen river.
- For decades, she struggled to make ends meet on her low income and often had to rely on the local food bank.
- After the accident, he struggled to regain his mobility and overcome the debilitating pain.
- The medical team struggled to revive the patient who had been clinically dead for several minutes.
- She struggled through her speech, trying to keep her composure in the face of intense media scrutiny.