adjective
Common
struggling
STRUHG-lihng
Struggling (adjective) means having a hard time succeeding or coping, especially financially or emotionally. Example: “The struggling shop on the corner finally closed after years of poor sales.”
adjective
1
Having a hard time succeeding or coping, especially financially or emotionally.
"The struggling shop on the corner finally closed after years of poor sales."
"The grant is aimed at struggling artists."
"He’s a struggling actor working nights as a waiter."
How to use struggling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCurrently having a difficult time, especially trying to get by or succeed at something.
Common pairings
struggling economy
struggling to cope
a struggling business
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Word forms
- Plural
- strugglings
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The _____ shop on the corner finally closed after years of poor sales.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for struggling
See all rhymes for struggling →Frequently asked questions
What does “struggling” mean?
The word “struggling” means having a hard time succeeding or coping, especially financially or emotionally. In plain terms, currently having a difficult time, especially trying to get by or succeed at something.
How do you pronounce “struggling”?
“Struggling” is pronounced STRUHG-lihng (/ˈstɹʌɡl̩ɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “struggling” in a sentence?
Here is “struggling” used in a sentence: “The grant is aimed at struggling artists.”
What part of speech is “struggling”?
“Struggling” is an adjective.
Is “struggling” a common word?
“Struggling” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between struggling and failing?
Struggling means having a hard time succeeding or coping, but still making an effort and not yet defeated. Failing means actually not succeeding or falling short of a standard. Someone who is struggling is fighting to stay afloat, while someone who is failing has, at least for now, not managed to.
What prepositions are used with struggling?
Struggling is commonly followed by "with" for the thing that is hard ("struggling with debt") and by "to" plus a verb for the effort ("struggling to cope"). You can also be "struggling for" something you lack, such as "struggling for money" or "struggling for breath."
What is the difference between struggling and stressed?
Struggling describes having genuine difficulty succeeding or coping, especially financially or emotionally, and points to the situation itself. Stressed describes the feeling of pressure or tension a person experiences, which can happen even when things are going reasonably well. You can be stressed without struggling, and struggling often causes stress.
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