struggle to withstand

USAGE SUMMARY

"struggle to withstand" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing efforts to resist or endure something challenging. Example: "The community struggled to withstand the harsh winter conditions." Alternative expressions include "strive to endure" and "fight to resist."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

On "good kid, m.A.A.d city" he vividly depicts the struggle to withstand the dehumanizing effects of violence and deprivation – and of his own appetite for material excess.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

This forced Nadal off the baseline, as he struggled to withstand the blistering onslaught of a revived Djokovic.

The New York Times

In choosing the art, her emphasis is on exploring the urban condition of a country struggling to withstand a more complicated internal war.

The Economist

In 2017, the reason is self-preservation: American democracy is struggling to withstand the rampant, profit-based manipulation of the public's emotions and hatreds.

The New Yorker

But the camp is struggling to withstand the rainy season downpours, which have left huts and tents flooded with sewage-contaminated water and water levels so high that people are being forced to sleep standing up with their children in their arms.

The Guardian

Both captain Drew Sullivan and Joel Freeland hobbled off with hip and ankle injuries midway through the third as the home side struggled to withstand Serbia's pacy offence.

BBC

The content delivery network Akamai had protected KrebsOnSecurity from more than 250 DDoS attacks over four years, but it struggled to withstand this record-breaking onslaught of fake traffic and, after several more attacks, booted Krebs from its service.

TechCrunch

But Somalia's leaders, struggling for years to withstand the insurgents' advances, have been paralyzed by bitter infighting and are so far unresponsive.

The New York Times

If his family was anything like mine, coming that far down meant you had to struggle to make your point, to withstand loving criticism under severe challenge and sometimes just to be heard.

The Guardian

The trend towards intensified processes is unbroken in the chemical industry, particularly in the industrial nations, since it facilitates the struggle with high energy prices and helps to withstand the increasing competition from low-cost countries.

Chemical Engineering Research and Design

Newcastle, who have struggled with Premiership survival for several seasons, had to withstand an onslaught of Gloucester pressure, particularly in the second half, but their defence was impressive, and they held on.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "struggle to withstand" when you want to emphasize the difficulty involved in resisting or enduring something. It suggests a situation where the subject is making a considerable effort to overcome pressure or adversity.

Common error

Avoid using "struggle to withstand" in everyday situations where the challenge is minor. The phrase carries a sense of significant adversity, and overuse in trivial contexts can dilute its impact and sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "struggle to withstand" functions as an infinitive phrase, typically used as part of a verb phrase. According to Ludwig, this phrase correctly depicts effort against a challenge. It often indicates an ongoing or potential effort to resist pressure or adversity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "struggle to withstand" is a grammatically sound infinitive phrase used to describe the act of resisting or enduring something challenging. Ludwig's analysis indicates it functions to convey difficulty in the face of adversity. The phrase has a neutral register, and, according to Ludwig, "struggle to withstand" is correct and usable in written English. It appears primarily in news and scientific contexts, indicating its suitability for conveying serious or significant challenges. While versatile, it's best used when the situation involves a considerable degree of effort and resistance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

find it hard to endure

Emphasizes the difficulty in enduring something, suggesting a lower capacity for tolerance.

have difficulty enduring

Highlights the presence of challenges in enduring a situation.

have a hard time tolerating

Focuses on the difficulty in tolerating something, often implying a lack of patience.

find it challenging to resist

Highlights the difficulty in actively opposing or preventing something.

have problems confronting

Focuses on difficulties with directly facing or dealing with a challenge.

be hard-pressed to weather

Implies being under pressure while attempting to survive or overcome a difficulty.

be hard-pressed to combat

Focuses on the intensity in attempting to struggle to prevent/stop a challenge.

be hard-pressed to battle

Focuses on the intensity in attempting to fight a challenge.

be hard-pressed to oppose

Focuses on the intensity in attempting to challenge.

be hard-pressed to defy

Focuses on the intensity in attempting to resist a challenge.

FAQs

How can I use "struggle to withstand" in a sentence?

You can use "struggle to withstand" to describe an entity facing significant pressure or adversity, such as "The small business struggled to withstand the economic downturn" or "The old bridge struggled to withstand the force of the floodwaters".

What are some alternatives to "struggle to withstand"?

Alternatives include phrases like "find it hard to endure", "have difficulty enduring", or "find it challenging to resist", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "struggle to withstand" or "struggling to withstand"?

Both "struggle to withstand" and "struggling to withstand" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different uses. "Struggle to withstand" (infinitive form) often describes a general capability or tendency, while "struggling to withstand" (present participle) describes an ongoing action or current state.

What's the difference between "struggle to withstand" and "struggle to overcome"?

"Struggle to withstand" implies resisting something to maintain a current state, while "struggle to overcome" suggests actively trying to defeat or conquer a challenge and move beyond it. One is about endurance, the other about active conquest.