to struggle

Examples

• All

• The cow's been down for hours, struggling to give birth.

  Tabula Rasa (2018)

• "Are you going to drag me back?" she asked, struggling to keep her voice even.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Scores go down as they struggle to cross the stream.

• You're fighting, you're struggling to breathe.

• Verstappen leads but Joshua Pearce is struggling out there at the moment.

  F1 (2025)

• Hours later, from his own tent, my dad hears Jerry struggling with the zipper on his tent.

  Academic text (2008)

• Finch really appears to be struggling as he rounds turn two and heads for the straightaway.

  Deck the Halls (2006)

• He had to struggle through the thick mud to reach the campsite.

• After falling off the bike, she began to struggle to regain her balance.

• The climbers struggle to reach the summit as the storm approaches.

Synonyms

H

to have a hard time

vsto struggle

241 3.7

Find something difficult to do

is specifically about moving or climbing with great physical difficulty

S

to scramble

vsto struggle

118 3.2

Climb quickly using your hands and feet on steep or rough ground

is similar but focuses on difficulty rather than speed or quickness

F

to flounder

vsto struggle

26 6.6

To struggle to move or think clearly when you have trouble

is focused on physical difficult movement or climbing rather than mental trouble

C

to clamber

vsto struggle

19 5.6

To climb awkwardly using hands and feet

is broader difficult movement or climbing often awkward but not only laborious

F

to falter

vsto struggle

4 5.6

To move or lean in a way that looks like it might fall

is about active hard movement rather than brief unsteady or hesitant motion

S

to shinny

vsto struggle

• Informal

1 9.3

To climb something by holding on with your hands and legs

is more general difficulty in moving or climbing, not only grasping style

S

to shin

vsto struggle

• UK

7.7

To climb up or down something using your hands and shins for support

covers hard or unsteady movement more broadly, not specific limb use

S

struggling

vsto struggle

3.9

Having trouble because of not enough money, success, or recognition

refers to physical hard movement or climbing rather than life hardships

Antonyms

G

to glide

89 2.9

To move smoothly and without effort through the air or over a surface

Compounds

C

class struggle

4 5.4

A conflict between rich owners and workers over money and power

I

inner struggle

1 5.7

A fight inside a person's mind about what they feel or believe

B

bestial struggle

• NSFW

9.0

A very violent, uncontrolled fight like animals fighting

H

hand-to-hand struggle

5.9

A close fight between people without weapons

R

Revolutionary People's Struggle

• NSFW

9.9

A far-left Greek armed group formed in 1971 to oppose the military government and capitalism

P

Palestinian Popular Struggle Front

• NSFW

9.9

A Palestinian political group formed in 1967 that carried out armed attacks against Israel

P

Popular Struggle Front

9.9

A Palestinian armed group that split from al-Fatah in 1967 and attacked Israel

S

struggle meal

• Informal

8.1

A cheap, simple meal you eat when you have little money

S

struggle session

9.5

A meeting where people talk about problems and criticize work to make it better

How Difficult

to struggle

170 3.0

to clamber

19 5.6

to scramble

118 3.2

to climb

∞ 1.0

to move

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology