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struggle against

[/ˈstrʌɡəl əˈɡɛnst/]
verb (phrasal verb)
lutar contra
1. to make forceful efforts to resist or overcome something difficult or unpleasant
She struggled against her fear of heights.
Ela lutava contra seu medo de alturas.
2. to fight or oppose something or someone
The nation struggled against oppression for decades.
A nação lutou contra a opressão por décadas.
3. to have difficulty dealing with or controlling something
He struggled against the urge to cry.
Ele lutava contra o impulso de chorar.
Synonyms
fight againstresistcombatopposecontend withbattle against
Antonyms
acceptsurrender toyield togive in toembrace

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
lutar contra
most common usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
lutar contra; enfrentar
enfrentar also commonly used in colloquial speech
São Paulo
lutar contra; combater
both terms widely used in formal and informal contexts
Portugal
lutar contra; combater
similar usage to Brazilian Portuguese, with slight preference for combater in formal contexts

Related Idioms & Phrases

struggle against the odds
struggle against all odds
struggle against the current
struggle against one's demons
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