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struggle with — to have difficulty dealing with or doing something

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: to have difficulty dealing with or doing something

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈstrʌɡəl wɪð/

Example Sentences

  • My cat struggles with opening the treat jar, but somehow always succeeds at 3 AM.
  • Students often struggle with English pronunciation.
  • I struggle with remembering people's names, but I never forget their embarrassing stories.

struggle with

NOUN

[/ˈstrʌɡəl wɪð/]

to have difficulty dealing with or doing something

to have difficulty dealing with or doing something
💡 Concept

to have difficulty dealing with or doing something

Struggle with tasks, juggle and watch dreams bubble away!
🎵 Rhyme

Struggle with tasks, juggle and watch dreams bubble away!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈstrʌɡəl wɪð/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈstrʌɡəl wɪð/

🌳Etymology

Rootstruggle

Origin

The phrase 'struggle with' combines two Middle English elements: 'struggle' emerged in the 14th century from Middle English with the primary sense of 'to writhe or thrash about,' while 'with' derives from Old English 'wið,' originally meaning 'against' or 'in opposition to.' Together, these elements evolved to express the act of engaging in difficult combat or effort against something.

Breakdown

struggle (Middle English, 'to writhe or contend') + with (Old English wið, 'against, in opposition to'). The combination literalizes physical resistance and metaphorically extends to any difficult engagement or opposition.

🎵Rhyme

juggle
snuggle
bubble

🔗Collocations

struggle with homework
struggle with depression
struggle with weight loss
struggle with language
struggle with finances
struggle with addiction

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My cat struggles with opening the treat jar, but somehow always succeeds at 3 AM.”

“Students often struggle with English pronunciation.”

😄 Fun example

“I struggle with remembering people's names, but I never forget their embarrassing stories.”

“Many people struggle with work-life balance in modern society.”

📚Related Words

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