struggled

Struggled is the simple past tense and past participle of the verb struggle. It is used to describe actions in which a person, group, or thing makes forceful efforts to overcome difficulty, resist opposition, or achieve a goal. The sense can be physical, as in wrestling or pulling, or figurative, as in dealing with problems, emotions, or obstacles. In narrative writing, struggled emphasizes duration and effort.

Common constructions include: struggle with a noun ("struggled with poverty"), struggle to do something ("struggled to finish the race"), and struggle for a goal or outcome ("struggled for independence"). The past participle form appears in perfect tenses and certain passive-like contexts, though the active voice is more typical.

Usage notes: Struggled often implies ongoing difficulty or resistance, but it can also indicate partial progress or temporary setbacks. It is not inherently evaluative, but it can convey adversity or hardship in reporting.

Examples: The team struggled to score in the first half. She struggled with her decision but chose to act. The economy struggled to rebound after the crisis. They struggled for years to secure funding.

Etymology: The verb struggle comes from Middle English with Germanic roots; the exact origin is uncertain. The form struggled has been used since Early Modern English to express past action or completed effort.