struggled
Had great difficulty
Struggled is the past tense of struggle, meaning to make strenuous efforts against difficulty or opposition.
Someone who struggled with a decision found it hard to make.
A business that struggled faced serious challenges.
She struggled to keep her balance on the ice.
He struggled with depression for years.
Physical struggling involves forceful movement against restraint: The suspect struggled as officers handcuffed him.
Strenuous, prolonged effort
- strainExcessive stretching force
- grindCrush into particles
- exertionVigorous physical effort
- slogLaborious persistent effort
labor · grapple · wrestle · contend · strive · battle · fight · push
Severe difficulty or suffering
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- setbackReverse in progress
- tribulationState of great distress
- sufferingSustained experience of distress
distress · trouble · ordeal · affliction · misfortune · misery · trauma · plight
Something blocking the way
- hurdleBarrier to leap over
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- difficultyState of being hard
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
impediment · dilemma · conundrum · test · trial · undertaking · uphill battle · roadblock
Sustained effort capacity
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
grit · willpower · persistence · stamina · resolve · steadfastness · dedication · commitment
toil
Strenuous, prolonged effort
slog · labor · grapple · wrestle · contend · strive · battle · fight · push · taxing
adversity
Severe difficulty or suffering
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- setbackReverse in progress
- tribulationState of great distress
suffering · distress · trouble · ordeal · affliction · misfortune · misery · trauma · plight · calamity
obstacle
Something blocking the way
- hurdleBarrier to leap over
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- difficultyState of being hard
complication · impediment · dilemma · conundrum · test · trial · undertaking · uphill battle · roadblock · handicap
endurance
Sustained effort capacity
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- determinationFirmness of purpose
fortitude · grit · willpower · persistence · stamina · resolve · steadfastness · dedication · commitment · overcoming
- pressed onpressed on, pushed on, persisted, persevered, continued
- took onassumed, undertook, undertaken, tackled, shouldered
struggledsurrendered
Ceased resistance formally
gave up · capitulated · yielded · gave in · quit
- power struggleContest for dominance
- eternal struggleCeaseless opposition between forces
- inner struggleMental or emotional turmoil
- personal strugglesIndividual challenges one faces
- moral struggleInternal debate over rightness
- internal struggle