grapple with challenges

USAGE SUMMARY

"grapple with challenges" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea that someone is facing, dealing with, or trying to solve a difficult situation. For example: "John had to grapple with some challenging decisions as he settled into his new role as manager."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In foreign affairs, however, the chief executive should enjoy flexible powers to grapple with challenges abroad for which Congress is ill suited.

The New York Times

Still, medical educators and librarians outside the region can benefit from learning about the rich and diverse descriptive information on how their colleagues at different western U.S. institutions grapple with challenges similar to their own.

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Even as she grieved, Brown had to grapple with challenging practical matters.

BBC

But as Mr. Ma's profile has risen, Alibaba has grappled with challenges, including allegations from the owners of famous brands that it takes a lax stance on counterfeit goods on its sales platforms — a charge it denies.

The New York Times

Still, the promise of strong control of Congress also left Democratic leaders grappling with challenges of balancing a wider spectrum of views within their own party while confronting a diminished House Republican conference now decidedly more conservative.

The New York Times

For him, the economic turmoil is the financial equivalent of 9/11 — a bookend to a presidency that has grappled with challenges brought on by terrorists, Mother Nature and two long-running wars.

The New York Times

Mr Rajan, a former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, takes over at a time when India's economy is grappling with challenges on various fronts.

BBC

Even stories of grappling with challenges or facing failure are inspiring for the readers, and often cathartic for the company involved.

TechCrunch

As an emerging field, IE has grappled with challenges such as establishing itself as a unique field, gaining academic merit, developing quality standards, and guiding applications in industrial operations.

Technology in Society

Students tested their classroom learning against real-life examples and saw others grappling with challenges yet to be solved.

Huffington Post

Kathy Pritchard grappled with challenges faced by current trials, including the overbearing burden of regulation, the high costs of conducting trials in the host institution and the 'publish or die' mentality of academia.

Breast Cancer Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "grapple with challenges", ensure the challenges are significant and require considerable effort to overcome. This phrase is best suited for describing situations that involve a degree of struggle or complexity.

Common error

Avoid using "grapple with challenges" when simpler phrases like "address issues" or "handle problems" would suffice. Overusing this phrase in minor situations can sound exaggerated or overly dramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grapple with challenges" functions as a verbal phrase, where "grapple" acts as a verb indicating a struggle, and "with challenges" serves as a prepositional phrase specifying the object of that struggle. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common and appropriate way to describe actively dealing with difficult situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

32%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grapple with challenges" is a versatile phrase used to describe the active and often difficult process of dealing with significant problems. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. While "grapple with challenges" implies a struggle, it's important to avoid overusing it in situations where simpler alternatives would suffice. Related phrases include "deal with difficulties" and "tackle problems", each offering slightly different nuances. The phrase's prevalence across authoritative sources like The New York Times and BBC underscores its widespread acceptance and utility in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deal with difficulties

Focuses on handling general difficulties, slightly broader than specific challenges.

confront obstacles

Highlights the act of facing obstacles directly, emphasizing confrontation.

tackle problems

Emphasizes a proactive approach to solving problems, suggesting a more hands-on approach.

address issues

Focuses on formally recognizing and dealing with specific issues.

manage complexities

Highlights the handling of intricate or complicated situations.

navigate difficulties

Suggests guiding oneself through difficult situations, implying a journey.

overcome hurdles

Focuses on successfully surpassing obstacles, emphasizing victory.

contend with hardships

Highlights enduring and struggling against severe difficulties.

wrestle with problems

Emphasizes a prolonged and intense struggle with problems.

face up to adversity

Focuses on courageously confronting difficult and adverse situations.

FAQs

How can I use "grapple with challenges" in a sentence?

You can use "grapple with challenges" to describe the act of struggling to overcome difficult situations, for example: "The company had to "grapple with challenges" to stay afloat during the recession".

What can I say instead of "grapple with challenges"?

You can use alternatives like "deal with difficulties", "tackle problems", or "address issues" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "grapple with a challenge" or "grapple with challenges"?

The choice depends on whether you are referring to a singular, specific challenge or multiple challenges. "Grapple with a challenge" refers to a single issue, while ""grapple with challenges"" indicates multiple issues.

What's the difference between "grapple with challenges" and "cope with challenges"?

"Grapple with challenges" suggests a more active and intense struggle, while "cope with challenges" implies managing or enduring difficult situations, often with less direct confrontation.