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struggled

VERB

labor, work

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cope seek strive tackle toil try

STRONG

assay attempt dig endeavor grind hassle hustle offer plug scratch slave strain sweat undertake

WEAK

bend over backwards break one's back break one's neck exert oneself give it one's best shot give the old college try go all out have one's nose to grindstone make every effort plug away take a crack take a stab take on try one's hardest work like a dog

Antonyms

STRONGEST

forget idle neglect

STRONG

be lazy ignore laze procrastinate withhold

WEAK

rest surrender yield

VERB

fight, wrestle

Synonyms

STRONGEST

compete contend grapple

STRONG

battle brawl buck contest hassle romp rough-house row scrap scuffle shuffle slug smack tangle

WEAK

bump heads cross swords go up against lock horns put up a fight

Antonyms

STRONG

agree concur make peace

WEAK

idle laze rest surrender yield

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Musk left OpenAI in 2018 and has since pursued AI projects through his rocket company SpaceX, while his AI startup xAI has struggled to gain traction against OpenAI and Anthropic, another prominent California-based AI company.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

China’s homegrown plane maker, Shanghai-based Comac, has struggled to develop a competitive domestic alternative to commercial planes from Boeing and Europe’s Airbus.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026

Such consistency is extremely rare in earthquake science, and researchers have long struggled to explain how the pattern could continue so reliably.

From Science Daily • May 16, 2026

Driving instructors say the black market trade has exploded as waiting times across the UK have soared, and thousands of learner drivers have struggled to get driving tests without a long wait.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

Four firefighters rushed to the jammed floodgate and struggled to fire up a backup generator.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland