wrestle with — struggle to resolve (abstract problem or decision)
phrasal verbC1IELTS 7+neutraloccasional
to try hard to deal with a difficult problem, question, or decision, especially when it is not easy to find an answer.
Say it like a native
Textbook I have been grappling with a profound moral dilemma.
Native I've been wrestling with a tough decision.
'Wrestle with' is the natural verb for struggling with a hard problem; 'grappling with a profound dilemma' is formal.
Pattern: wrestle with + noun (problem/issue/decision)
In use
- I've been wrestling with the decision of whether to move abroad for months now.work
- Many students wrestle with time management when they first start university, as balancing study and social life can be quite challenging.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I'm wrestling about the decision.
✓ I'm wrestling with the decision.
'Wrestle WITH' a problem — not 'about'.
Common collocations
wrestle with + problem— a decision, the question, my conscience, the issue
Don't confuse it
Unlike the literal sense of 'wrestle' (physically fighting), this sense is figurative and refers to mental or emotional struggle with a problem, not a person.