struggle
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strug·gle
(strŭg′əl)v. strug·gled, strug·gling, strug·gles
v.intr.
1. To exert muscular energy, as against a material force or mass: struggled with the heavy load.
2.
a. To be strenuously engaged with a problem, task, or undertaking: struggled for years before breaking through as an actor.
b. To have difficulty or make a strenuous effort doing something: struggled to be polite.
c. To move or progress with difficulty: struggled up the steep slope.
3. To contend or compete: "Right and wrong ... will ever continue to struggle" (Abraham Lincoln).
v.tr.
To move or place (something) with an effort: struggled the heavy desk into the elevator.
n.
1. The act of struggling: the rat's struggle to escape the snake's coils.
2. A strenuous effort in the face of difficulty: the struggle for civil rights.
3. Strife, contention, or combat: armed struggle.
4. Something that is difficult to do or achieve: Getting him to agree will be a struggle.
[Middle English struglen.]
strug′gler n.
strug′gling·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
struggle
(ˈstrʌɡəl)vb
1. (intr; usually foll by for or against; may take an infinitive) to exert strength, energy, and force; work or strive: to struggle to obtain freedom.
2. (intr) to move about strenuously so as to escape from something confining
3. (intr) to contend, battle, or fight
4. (intr) to go or progress with difficulty
n
5. a laboured or strenuous exertion or effort
6. (Military) a fight or battle
7. the act of struggling
8. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the struggle South African the radical and armed opposition to apartheid, esp by the military wings of the ANC and the PAC
[C14: of obscure origin]
ˈstruggler n
ˈstruggling adj
ˈstrugglingly adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
strug•gle
(ˈstrʌg əl)v. -gled, -gling,
n. v.i.
1. to contend vigorously with an adversary or adverse conditions.
2. to contend resolutely with a task or problem.
3. to make strenuous efforts; strive.
4. to advance with great effort: to struggle through heavy snow.
v.t. 5. to bring, put, etc., by struggling.
6. to make (one's way) with great effort.
n. 7. an act or instance of struggling.
8. a war, fight, conflict, or contest of any kind.
[1350–1400; Middle English struglen, stroglen, frequentative v. (see -le) formed on a base of obscure orig.]
strug′gler, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Struggle
See Also: BEHAVIOR, FUTILITY, LIFE
- (In his efforts with the numbing pain,) he was like a man wrestling with a creature of the air —Stephen Crane
- Like the tiny coral insect, working deep under the dark waters, we strive and struggle, each for our own little ends —Jerome K. Jerome
- Struggle along … stopping and starting like a blown newspaper —J. G. Farrell
- (The coalition Israeli government) struggled like two cats in a bag —Ebra Ames
- Struggle like a fish —Leo Tolstoy
- Struggling like a fly trapped in a glass of water —Anon
- Struggling like a moth to break its chrysalis —Rumer Godden
- Struggling through life like a wearied swimmer trying to touch the horizon —Israel Zangwill
Similes Dictionary, 1st Edition. © 1988 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
struggle
Past participle: struggled
Gerund: struggling
| Imperative |
|---|
| struggle |
| struggle |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  struggle - an energetic attempt to achieve something; "getting through the crowd was a real struggle"; "he fought a battle for recognition"attempt, effort, try, endeavor, endeavour - earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something; "made an effort to cover all the reading material"; "wished him luck in his endeavor"; "she gave it a good try" duel - any struggle between two skillful opponents (individuals or groups) |
| 2. |  struggle - an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals); "the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph"--Thomas Paine; "police tried to control the battle between the pro- and anti-abortion mobs"class struggle, class war, class warfare - conflict between social or economic classes (especially between the capitalist and proletariat classes) insurrection, revolt, uprising, rising, rebellion - organized opposition to authority; a conflict in which one faction tries to wrest control from another counterinsurgency, pacification - actions taken by a government to defeat insurgency group action - action taken by a group of people strife - bitter conflict; heated often violent dissension tug-of-war - any hard struggle between equally matched groups turf war - a bitter struggle for territory or power or control or rights; "a turf war erupted between street gangs"; "the president's resignation was the result of a turf war with the board of directors" fighting, combat, fight, scrap - the act of fighting; any contest or struggle; "a fight broke out at the hockey game"; "there was fighting in the streets"; "the unhappy couple got into a terrible scrap" feud - a bitter quarrel between two parties | |
| 3. | struggle - strenuous effort; "the struggle to get through the crowd exhausted her" elbow grease, exertion, effort, travail, sweat - use of physical or mental energy; hard work; "he got an A for effort"; "they managed only with great exertion" grappling, hand-to-hand struggle, wrestle, wrestling, grapple - the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat; "they had a fierce wrestle"; "we watched his grappling and wrestling with the bully" | |
| Verb | 1. | struggle - make a strenuous or labored effort; "She struggled for years to survive without welfare"; "He fought for breath" labor, labour, tug, push, drive - strive and make an effort to reach a goal; "She tugged for years to make a decent living"; "We have to push a little to make the deadline!"; "She is driving away at her doctoral thesis" flounder - behave awkwardly; have difficulties; "She is floundering in college" |
| 2. | struggle - to exert strenuous effort against opposition; "he struggled to get free from the rope" | |
| 3. | struggle - climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling climb - move with difficulty, by grasping | |
| 4. | struggle - 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" bear down - exert full strength; "The pitcher bore down" fistfight - fight with the fists; "The man wanted to fist-fight" join battle - engage in a conflict; "The battle over health care reform was joined" tug - struggle in opposition; "She tugged and wrestled with her conflicts" fight down, oppose, fight, fight back, defend - fight against or resist strongly; "The senator said he would oppose the bill"; "Don't fight it!" get back, settle - get one's revenge for a wrong or an injury; "I finally settled with my old enemy" fight back - defend oneself battle, combat - battle or contend against in or as if in a battle; "The Kurds are combating Iraqi troops in Northern Iraq"; "We must combat the prejudices against other races"; "they battled over the budget" war - make or wage war attack, assail - launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with; "Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II"; "Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week" duel - fight a duel, as over one's honor or a woman; "In the 19th century, men often dueled over small matters" joust - joust against somebody in a tournament by fighting on horseback chickenfight, chicken-fight - fight while sitting on somebody's shoulders tourney - engage in a tourney feud - carry out a feud; "The two professors have been feuding for years" skirmish - engage in a skirmish bandy - exchange blows fence - fight with fencing swords box - engage in a boxing match spar - fight with spurs; "the gamecocks were sparring" tussle, scuffle - fight or struggle in a confused way at close quarters; "the drunken men started to scuffle" wrestle - engage in a wrestling match; "The children wrestled in the garden" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
struggle
verb
1. strive, labour, toil, work, strain, go for it (informal), make every effort, go all out (informal), bend over backwards (informal), go for broke (slang), bust a gut (informal), give it your best shot (informal), break your neck (informal), exert yourself, make an all-out effort (informal), work like a Trojan, knock yourself out (informal), do your damnedest (informal), give it your all (informal), rupture yourself (informal) They had to struggle against all kinds of adversity.
2. fight, battle, wrestle, grapple, compete, contend, scuffle, lock horns We were struggling for the gun when it went off.
3. have trouble, have problems, have difficulties, fight, come unstuck The company is struggling to find visitors.
noun
2. effort, labour, toil, work, grind (informal), pains, scramble, long haul, exertion a young lad's struggle to support his poverty-stricken family
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
struggle
verbnoun1. The use of energy to do something:
Informal: elbow grease.
2. A vying with others for victory or supremacy:
battle, competition, contest, corrivalry, race, rivalry, strife, striving, tug of war, war, warfare.
3. A state of open, prolonged fighting:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
كِفَاحكِفاح، نِضالنضاليَتَحَرَّك بِصُعوبَهيُحاوِل الإفْلات بِعُنْف
zápasitzmítat sebojprodírat seúsilí
kæmpekampstritte imod
kamppaillakamppailutaistelu
borbaboriti se
harcolküzdküzdelemviaskodik
baráttabrjótastbrjótast umstríîa, berjast viî
奮闘奮闘する苦闘苦闘する闘争
고투열심히 노력하다
iš visų jėgų stengtisšiaip ne taip verstisstengtis ištrūktivos sudurti galą su galu
ārā u.tml.)cīņacīnītiescīnīties/lauzties (uz priekšukarot
bojboriti se
kampkämpa
ความพยายามพยายาม
cố gắngcuộc đấu tranh
struggle
[ˈstrʌgl]A. N
1. (lit) → pelea f, forcejeo m
there were signs of a struggle → había señales de haberse producido una pelea or un forcejeo
two men went up to him and a struggle broke out → dos hombres se acercaron a él y se desencadenó una pelea
he lost his glasses in the struggle → perdió las gafas en la pelea or refriega
to put up a struggle → oponer resistencia, forcejear
he handed over his wallet without a struggle → entregó su billetera sin oponer resistencia
there were signs of a struggle → había señales de haberse producido una pelea or un forcejeo
two men went up to him and a struggle broke out → dos hombres se acercaron a él y se desencadenó una pelea
he lost his glasses in the struggle → perdió las gafas en la pelea or refriega
to put up a struggle → oponer resistencia, forcejear
he handed over his wallet without a struggle → entregó su billetera sin oponer resistencia
2. (fig) → lucha f (for por) her struggle to feed her children → su lucha por poder dar de comer a sus hijos
I had a struggle to persuade her → me costó trabajo persuadirla
he finally lost his struggle against cancer → finalmente perdió su lucha contra el cáncer
the struggle for survival → la lucha por la supervivencia
there is a fierce power struggle going on behind the scenes → hay una intensa lucha por el poder entre bastidores
local shopkeepers are not giving up without a struggle → los tenderos del barrio no van a rendirse sin luchar
see also class D
see also uphill
I had a struggle to persuade her → me costó trabajo persuadirla
he finally lost his struggle against cancer → finalmente perdió su lucha contra el cáncer
the struggle for survival → la lucha por la supervivencia
there is a fierce power struggle going on behind the scenes → hay una intensa lucha por el poder entre bastidores
local shopkeepers are not giving up without a struggle → los tenderos del barrio no van a rendirse sin luchar
see also class D
see also uphill
B. VI
1. (= scuffle) → forcejear
stop struggling! → ¡deja de forcejear!
he struggled to get free from the ropes → forcejeó para soltarse de las cuerdas
we were struggling for the gun when it went off → forcejeábamos para hacernos con la pistola cuando se disparó
to struggle with sb → forcejear con algn
stop struggling! → ¡deja de forcejear!
he struggled to get free from the ropes → forcejeó para soltarse de las cuerdas
we were struggling for the gun when it went off → forcejeábamos para hacernos con la pistola cuando se disparó
to struggle with sb → forcejear con algn
2. (= move with difficulty)
to struggle free → lograr soltarse con dificultad
I struggled into my costume → logré ponerme el disfraz como pude
we struggled through the crowd → nos abrimos paso a duras penas entre la multitud
she struggled to her feet → logró ponerse de pie
the bus was struggling up the hill → el autobús subía con dificultad la cuesta
he was struggling with his luggage → cargaba con su equipaje con gran esfuerzo
to struggle free → lograr soltarse con dificultad
I struggled into my costume → logré ponerme el disfraz como pude
we struggled through the crowd → nos abrimos paso a duras penas entre la multitud
she struggled to her feet → logró ponerse de pie
the bus was struggling up the hill → el autobús subía con dificultad la cuesta
he was struggling with his luggage → cargaba con su equipaje con gran esfuerzo
3. (= fight against odds) → luchar
to struggle to do sth → luchar por hacer algo, esforzarse por hacer algo
to struggle against sth → luchar contra algo
he struggled against the disease for 20 years → luchó contra la enfermedad durante 20 años
we could see she was struggling for breath → veíamos como respiraba con dificultad
to struggle in vain → luchar en vano
to struggle to do sth → luchar por hacer algo, esforzarse por hacer algo
to struggle against sth → luchar contra algo
he struggled against the disease for 20 years → luchó contra la enfermedad durante 20 años
we could see she was struggling for breath → veíamos como respiraba con dificultad
to struggle in vain → luchar en vano
4. (= have difficulties) → tener problemas
they were struggling to pay their bills → tenían problemas or iban apurados para pagar las facturas
the economy is struggling → la economía está en apuros
he's struggling in his present class → se ve apurado en la clase en la que está ahora
I struggled through the book → me costó terminar de leer el libro, tuve problemas para terminar de leer el libro
she has struggled with her weight for years → ha tenido problemas con su peso durante años
they were struggling to pay their bills → tenían problemas or iban apurados para pagar las facturas
the economy is struggling → la economía está en apuros
he's struggling in his present class → se ve apurado en la clase en la que está ahora
I struggled through the book → me costó terminar de leer el libro, tuve problemas para terminar de leer el libro
she has struggled with her weight for years → ha tenido problemas con su peso durante años
struggle along VI + ADV
1. (lit) → avanzar con dificultad or penosamente
2. (fig) (financially) → ir apurado
struggle on VI + ADV
1. (= keep moving) we struggled on for another kilometre → conseguimos avanzar otro kilómetro a duras penas
2. (fig) → seguir bregando
many old people choose to struggle on alone → muchas personas mayores prefieren seguir bregando solas
many old people choose to struggle on alone → muchas personas mayores prefieren seguir bregando solas
struggle through VI + ADV we'll struggle through somehow → saldremos adelante de algún modo
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
struggle
[ˈstrʌgəl] n
(to achieve or obtain sth) → lutte f
a struggle for survival → une lutte pour la survie
power struggle → lutte f de pouvoir
a struggle for survival → une lutte pour la survie
power struggle → lutte f de pouvoir
(= scuffle) → lutte f
vi
(= try hard) → lutter, se battre
to struggle to do sth (= try hard) → se battre pour faire qch
He struggled to get custody of his daughter → Il s'est battu pour obtenir la garde de sa fille.
to struggle to do sth (= try hard) → se battre pour faire qch
He struggled to get custody of his daughter → Il s'est battu pour obtenir la garde de sa fille.
(= move with difficulty)
She struggled to her feet → Elle se leva avec difficulté., Elle peina pour se lever.
She struggled to her feet → Elle se leva avec difficulté., Elle peina pour se lever.
(= have difficulty) → se débattre dans les difficultés
The company is struggling → La compagnie se débat dans les difficultés.
to struggle financially → se débattre dans les difficultés financières
to struggle to do sth → avoir du mal à faire qch
The company is struggling → La compagnie se débat dans les difficultés.
to struggle financially → se débattre dans les difficultés financières
to struggle to do sth → avoir du mal à faire qch
(= put up a fight) → se débattre
He struggled, but he couldn't escape → Il s'est débattu, mais il n'a pas pu s'échapper.
He struggled, but he couldn't escape → Il s'est débattu, mais il n'a pas pu s'échapper.
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
struggle
n (lit, fig) → Kampf m → (for um); (fig: = effort) → Anstrengung f; without a struggle → kampflos; to put up a struggle → sich wehren; the struggle for survival/existence → der Überlebens-/Daseinskampf; the struggle to feed her seven children → der Kampf, ihre sieben Kinder zu ernähren; the struggle to find somewhere to live → der Kampf or die Schwierigkeiten, bis man eine Wohnung gefunden hat; it is/was a struggle → es ist/war mühsam; she finds life a struggle → sie findet das Leben mühsam; I had a struggle to persuade him → es war gar nicht einfach, ihn zu überreden
vi
(= contend) → kämpfen; (in self-defence) → sich wehren; (= writhe) → sich winden; (financially) → in Schwierigkeiten sein, krebsen (inf); (fig: = strive) → sich sehr bemühen or anstrengen, sich abmühen; the police were struggling with the burglar → zwischen der Polizei und dem Einbrecher gab es ein Handgemenge; to struggle to do something → sich sehr anstrengen, etw zu tun; to struggle for something → um etw kämpfen, sich um etw bemühen; to struggle against somebody/something → gegen jdn/etw kämpfen; to struggle with somebody → mit jdm kämpfen; to struggle with something (with problem, difficulty, question) → sich mit etw herumschlagen; with injury, mortgage, debts, feelings → mit etw zu kämpfen haben; with doubts, one’s conscience → mit etw ringen; with luggage, language, subject, homework, words → sich mit etw abmühen; to struggle with life → es im Leben nicht leicht haben; this firm/team/family is struggling → diese Firma/Mannschaft/Familie hat (schwer) zu kämpfen; are you struggling? → hast du Schwierigkeiten?; can you manage? — I’m struggling → schaffst dus? — mit Müh und Not; he was struggling to make ends meet → er hatte seine liebe Not durchzukommen
(= move with difficulty) → sich quälen; to struggle to one’s feet → mühsam aufstehen or auf die Beine kommen, sich aufrappeln (inf); to struggle to get up → sich hochquälen; he struggled through the tiny window → er zwängte sich durch das kleine Fenster; to struggle on (lit) → sich weiterkämpfen; (fig) → weiterkämpfen; to struggle along/through (lit, fig) → sich durchschlagen or -kämpfen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
struggle
[ˈstrʌgl]1. n (fight) → lotta; (effort) → sforzo
he lost his glasses in the struggle → ha perso gli occhiali nella zuffa
a power struggle → una lotta per il potere
the struggle for survival → la lotta per la sopravvivenza
without a struggle (surrender) → senza opporre resistenza (without difficulty) → senza problemi
to have a struggle to do sth → avere dei problemi a fare qc
he lost his glasses in the struggle → ha perso gli occhiali nella zuffa
a power struggle → una lotta per il potere
the struggle for survival → la lotta per la sopravvivenza
without a struggle (surrender) → senza opporre resistenza (without difficulty) → senza problemi
to have a struggle to do sth → avere dei problemi a fare qc
2. vi (physically) → lottare
to struggle with sth/sb → lottare con qc/qn
to struggle to one's feet → alzarsi con sforzo
to struggle through the crowd → avanzare a fatica tra la folla
to struggle with sth/sb → lottare con qc/qn
to struggle to one's feet → alzarsi con sforzo
to struggle through the crowd → avanzare a fatica tra la folla
3. vt to struggle to do sth → lottare per fare qc
to struggle to make ends meet (fig) → faticare a sbarcare il lunario
to struggle to make ends meet (fig) → faticare a sbarcare il lunario
struggle on vi + adv (fighting) → continuare a lottare; (walking) → avanzare a fatica; (living) → tirare avanti
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
struggle
(ˈstragl) verb1. to twist violently when trying to free oneself. The child struggled in his arms.
2. to make great efforts or try hard. All his life he has been struggling with illness / against injustice.
3. to move with difficulty. He struggled out of the hole.
noun an act of struggling, or a fight. The struggle for independence was long and hard.
struggle along to have only just enough money to live.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
struggle
→ كِفَاح, يُكَافِحُ úsilí, usilovat kæmpe, kamp abmühen (sich), Kampf αγώνας, αγωνίζομαι esforzarse, forcejear, lucha kamppailla, kamppailu lutte, lutter borba, boriti se lotta, lottare 苦闘, 苦闘する 고투, 열심히 노력하다 worstelen, worsteling besvær, streve walczyć, walka esforçar-se, esforço бороться, борьба kamp, kämpa ความพยายาม, พยายาม mücadele, mücadele etmek cố gắng, cuộc đấu tranh 挣扎Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
struggle
n. lucha, esfuerzo;
vt. luchar, esforzarse.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012