struggled with

USAGE SUMMARY

"struggled with" is a perfectly acceptable, and commonly used phrase in English.
You can use it when talking about someone or something that has difficulty dealing with or overcoming an obstacle or challenge. For example: "John has struggled with his mental health for years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He struggled with asthma.

The New Yorker

She struggled with that.

The New York Times - Sports

We struggled with proportions.

The New York Times

They struggled with college!

The New York Times

I struggled with it.

The New York Times - Sports

Tapia struggled with depression.

The New Yorker

Li struggled with forehand errors.

The New York Times

Macdonald struggled with the project.

The New Yorker

Bob Dylan struggled with identity.

The New York Times - Books

He struggled with substance abuse.

The New York Times

"We really struggled with them".

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context to determine if a more nuanced alternative, such as "grappled with" or "contended with", might be more appropriate.

Common error

While versatile, "struggled with" can sometimes sound informal. In academic or professional contexts, consider replacing it with phrases like "faced challenges in" or "encountered difficulties with" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "struggled with" functions as a verb phrase, indicating difficulty or effort in dealing with something. It typically connects a subject to an object or situation that presents a challenge. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's a common phrase used across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Encyclopedias

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "struggled with" is a very common and grammatically sound phrase used to express difficulty or effort in dealing with something. As Ludwig AI states, it's acceptable and commonly used. Predominantly found in news and media, this phrase maintains a neutral register, making it appropriate for various contexts. When writing, ensure the object of the preposition is clear and consider more nuanced alternatives based on the specific challenge. For more formal contexts, "faced challenges in" or "encountered difficulties with" may be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had difficulty with

This alternative directly replaces "struggled" with "had difficulty", maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

faced challenges with

Replaces "struggled" with "faced challenges", emphasizing the confrontation of difficulties rather than the degree of difficulty.

had a hard time with

This alternative uses a more informal tone than "struggled with", but it conveys a similar meaning.

found it difficult to

This shifts the focus to the act of finding something difficult, rather than the struggle itself.

grappled with

This suggests a more intense and prolonged struggle than simply "struggled with".

contended with

This alternative implies a more active and forceful opposition or conflict.

wrestled with

This suggests a difficult and often internal struggle, implying mental or emotional effort.

battled with

This alternative indicates a more serious and sustained effort to overcome a problem.

had issues with

This is a more general and less intense way of saying "struggled with", suggesting problems without specifying the degree of difficulty.

coped poorly with

This highlights the inability to manage or deal with something effectively.

FAQs

What does "struggled with" mean?

"Struggled with" means to have difficulty dealing with or overcoming something. It implies effort and some degree of challenge or resistance.

How can I use "struggled with" in a sentence?

You can use "struggled with" to describe a personal difficulty, such as "She "struggled with" the math problems", or to describe how a group or entity faces obstacles, such as "The company "struggled with" the new regulations".

What can I say instead of "struggled with"?

You can use alternatives like "had difficulty with", "faced challenges with", or "had a hard time with" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "struggled with to"?

No, it's not correct. The correct usage is "struggled with" followed by a noun or gerund (verb ending in -ing), or "struggled to" followed by the base form of a verb (e.g., "struggled to understand").