1Make forceful or violent efforts to get free of restraint or constriction.

1. 1.1Engage in conflict.
   ‘politicians continued to struggle over familiar issues’
   More example sentences

   • ‘This shift in rodeo queen criteria did not sit well with women who struggled to continue competing in rodeo.’
   • ‘Mass marketers continue to struggle against thick competition from department store and specialty brands.’
   • ‘Retailers continuing to struggle amidst intense competition, a slowing economy and low inflation.’
   • ‘These shifts did not occur without inner turmoil and conflict, and many fractions continue to struggle within the party today.’
   • ‘It smacks more of a fragmented nation struggling to reconcile the conflicting agendas of disparate racial groups.’
   • ‘He's reviewing whether he can continue to provide his employees' benefits as he struggles to compete.’
   • ‘The network's chairman announces his departure as CNN continues to struggle in the cable ratings war.’
   • ‘These groups, despite the brutal opposition of the state, continue to struggle against corrupt and repressive regimes.’
   • ‘Mark Bahnisch continues to struggle valiantly against his blogging addiction, but with less than complete success.’
   • ‘Indigenous people around the world continue to struggle against the exploitation of their land and resources.’
   • ‘Why not take advantage of some opportunities that may not be there if Wie does continue to struggle against the men?’
   • ‘Shops in the town continually have to struggle against fierce competition from bigger centres.’
   • ‘It was probably the worst time to begin and the country has continued to struggle to this day.’
   • ‘He continued to struggle when other officers arrived but was eventually arrested.’
   • ‘Jessica screams as she looks into Stephanie's deadly eyes and the two women struggle desperately for survival.’
   • ‘She struggled vainly to get away, but eventually gave up.’
   • ‘I was the assistant captain, so I struggled with him, and managed to throw him on to the ice.’
   Synonyms

   compete, contend, contest, vie, fight, battle, clash, wrangle, jockey, lock horns, cross swords, war, wage war, feud

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2. 1.2Strive to achieve or attain something in the face of difficulty or resistance.
   ‘new authors are struggling in the present climate’
   More example sentences

   • ‘many families struggle to make ends meet’
   • ‘Most of their batsmen are still struggling to cope with the New Zealand pace attack.’
   • ‘He was struggling mightily at the plate in the play-offs and appeared out of sorts.’
   • ‘The US $183 million Yankees are struggling mightily at the plate, leaving their fans restless.’
   • ‘They said they were already struggling to cope with the 6,500 people on their books.’
   • ‘He and his board have struggled valiantly to keep the club going, despite facing major obstacles.’
   • ‘Fordyce has struggled offensively all season but is signed for two more years.’
   • ‘Both she and Hope were desperately struggling to keep a straight face.’
   • ‘The loss to Tranmere was excusable, but two defeats to teams struggling to survive is very disappointing.’
   • ‘The woman struggled to her feet when there was a loud creaking sound.’
   • ‘Many ordinary men and women struggle hard to achieve more equality in their lives.’
   • ‘Both sides struggled to find a route to goal in the second half.’
   • ‘With a new manager the side has struggled to find the highs of recent seasons.’
   • ‘The former dairy worker is struggling to get much enthusiasm from fellow tenants.’
   • ‘The Italian economy is struggling under a burden of recession, rising inflation, and high government debt.’
   • ‘The city struggled for the survival of its body as well as its soul.’
   • ‘He struggled at the plate and needs to regain his confidence.’
   • ‘But he struggled with injuries for much of the season and missed four games.’
   • ‘The homesters struggled against some very tidy bowling and were dismissed for 89.’
   • ‘His gait was bent and he was struggling against all odds just to keep himself going.’
   • ‘Tibetan culture is also struggling against these odds, merely to survive.’
   Synonyms

   strive, try hard, endeavour, make every effort, spare no effort, exert oneself, do one's best, do all one can, do one's utmost, battle, labour, toil, strain, bend over backwards, put oneself out

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3. 1.3struggle withHave difficulty handling or coping with.
   ‘passengers struggle with bags and briefcases’
   More example sentences

   • ‘In light of this, it was a shame to learn that the resort is struggling with financial difficulties.’
   • ‘Nevertheless, even she struggled with some of the difficulties posed by the system.’
   • ‘She struggled with the handle before swinging the door open, diving in and slamming it shut again.’
   • ‘I wonder if you could spare a thought this week for these people as they struggle with their present difficulties.’
   • ‘It is evident that the Ericsson services business was struggling with similar sorts of issues.’
   • ‘In a climate where it seems other politicians struggle with that acceptance, it's a refreshing change.’
   • ‘Many people struggle with managing their time and trying to achieve everything they want to throughout the day.’
   • ‘The former world number one is still struggling with a stomach strain.’
   • ‘He was the person his colleagues turned to when they were struggling with difficult clinical problems.’
   • ‘Family and friends knew all about my struggles with domestic management and parenting, my daytime naps, and early nights.’
4. 1.4Make one's way with difficulty.
   More example sentences

   • ‘he struggled to the summit of the world's highest mountain’
   Synonyms

   scramble, flounder, stumble

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1A forceful or violent effort to get free of restraint or resist attack.

1. 1.1A conflict or contest.
   ‘a power struggle for the leadership’
   More example sentences

   • ‘with a struggle, she pulled the stroller up the slope’
   • ‘With little room for compromise the stage is set for a bitter internal factional struggle.’
   • ‘The sad truth is that the man who vows to continue the armed struggle is likely to prevail.’
   • ‘His heroes were all engaged in titanic struggles for survival, with defeat always a possibility.’
   • ‘But it is not clear whether the ongoing political struggles are shadow boxing or part of a real contest.’
   • ‘It marked the beginning of what has turned out to be a protracted political struggle.’
   • ‘Conflict in Angola flared up in the 1960s during the liberation struggle against Portuguese colonial domination.’
   • ‘He abandoned his studies in 1930 and joined the freedom struggle.’
   • ‘The defence of democratic rights is inseparably bound up with the struggle for socialism.’
   • ‘Our lives are an eternal struggle between opposing forces.’
   • ‘A basic preoccupation of science fiction is the often troubled relationship between humanity and other life-forms and, by extension, the role played by technology in the struggle for power and control.’
   Synonyms

   conflict, fight, battle, armed conflict, combat, confrontation, clash, skirmish, encounter, engagement

   contest, competition, battle, fight, clash, feud

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2. 1.2A determined effort under difficulties.
   ‘the center is the result of the scientists' struggle to realize their dream’
   More example sentences

   • ‘At the same time, their determined struggle against adversity is a source of inspiration for all of us.’
   • ‘This would, however, require a determined struggle, relying on Senate filibusters and similar tactics.’
   • ‘Social reforms alongside a determined struggle for liberation will lead us towards democracy and independence.’
   • ‘People were largely caught up in the desperate daily struggle for survival.’
   • ‘Pushing through the proposed reforms has been an uphill struggle from the start.’
   • ‘The panelists urged the youth to continue the struggle for equality and justice.’
   • ‘You're surely not suggesting that women should abandon their struggle for equality to stay home and mix formula instead?’
   • ‘In contrast, deported refugees face a struggle for their very existence.’
   • ‘Chavez, who led the struggle for social justice for migrant farm workers, died in 1993.’
   • ‘The advent of the female birth control pill greatly aided women's struggle for autonomy and fulfillment.’
   • ‘We might feel ambivalent about picking up a book about a woman's struggle with breast cancer.’
   • ‘Consequently, the struggles for self-determination took various forms as independence to greater autonomy.’
   • ‘We acknowledge the support of the Australian people, and other countries, in our struggle for self-determination.’
   • ‘It's a daily struggle for not only physical survival, but mental endurance and a lingering hope that their story will be heard.’
   • ‘We never once see any internal struggle in his physically compromised position.’
   • ‘Thus, the fight against sweatshops is defined in this context as a struggle for physical improvement of workplaces.’
   • ‘But on a deeper level they meant to frame labor's struggle as an effort to secure human rights.’
   • ‘For the past 50 years, the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people have embarked on a non-violent struggle to free Tibet from its oppressors.’
   • ‘Over 200 child labourers from 55 countries gathered to share experiences of their struggle to create a free world for children.’
   • ‘Theirs is a just struggle to free their country from tyranny.’
   • ‘Socialists who stressed the struggle of the poor, like the poet Attila József, were a minority voice.’
   Synonyms

   endeavour, striving, effort, exertion, labour, work, toiling, pains

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3. 1.3A very difficult task.
   ‘it was a struggle to make herself understood’
   More example sentences

   • ‘And such struggles become difficult if not impossible when workers do not have a minimum security of tenure.’
   • ‘I think it's going to be a difficult struggle, definitely.’
   • ‘It has been a difficult struggle for a group which began life without two farthings to rub together.’
   • ‘And, the only certainty in this journey is that this will be our most difficult of struggles.’
   • ‘And becoming good moreover requires a difficult struggle for self-mastery, just like any form of training.’
   • ‘It's a factor that Martel will almost certainly have to contend with in the future, a struggle almost as difficult as that facing Alonso.’
   • ‘It was a difficult struggle, but she managed to hold it in.’
   • ‘We heard of the struggle of the pastoral counselor, poorly equipped for the task at hand, and yet pushed to provide more pastoral care.’
   • ‘The show is littered with these moments as human interacts with apparatus in a physical struggle.’
   Synonyms

   effort, labour, problem, trial, trouble, stress, strain, bother, battle

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