►Are muslims who keep saying "jihaad means to struggle", undermining its true purpose and misleeding muslims?

No, they are trying to make you understand that violence is a coward's way out of a situation and that instead we should follow Qur'anic advice of restraint, forgiveness, and defensive warfare only. We need to fight in the ways of Allah. We need to challenge them with peace before we defend against the violence. The jihadis are not helping the situation of other Muslims at all, instead they are giving the enemy excuses to promote hatred.