Needless struggles abated (8)
I believe the answer is:
lessened
'abated' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'needless struggles' is the wordplay.
'struggles' indicates an anagram.
'needless' anagrammed gives 'LESSENED'.
(Other definitions for lessened that I've seen before include "cut" , "Needless (anag.)" , "Diminished, decreased" , "belittled" .)