elbow

verb

Definition of elbownext
as in to push
to force one's way the sort of greedy person who is always the first to elbow to the front of the buffet table at every party

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of elbow Will Robinson allegedly suffered a thumb fracture and elbow and back injuries. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 But the Heat landing Giannis elbows its way to the top of our sports marquee. — Miami Herald, 23 June 2026 Allister elbowing Ibrahim Maza in the face in the 74th minute. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 19 June 2026 Identifying Termites Subterranean termites have thicker bodies than carpenter ants, no waistline, and their antennae are not elbowed. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for elbow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elbow
  1. push
  2. squeeze
  3. shoulder
Verb
  • Paredes didn’t listen, electing instead to push Eric Garcia in the throat.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Argentina pushed for an equalizer late but couldn’t find the net.
    — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
Definition of push
Verb
  • Barbara Rainey, a Cherry resident of 76 years, said a school bus hit her cousin’s car while trying to squeeze between vehicles parked on either side.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
  • Tournament football isn’t generally conducive to pressing, with so many matches squeezed into such a short window, and without the cohesion that comes from club sides training together for months.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of squeeze
Verb
  • As for coming to America in 2026, who would shoulder the exorbitant costs and the travel challenges, let alone the risk of being pulled out of a line at the Atlanta airport, interrogated, and sent back home for joking about penalty shoot-outs?
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
  • Records obtained by the Star-Telegram show governmental agencies in the state will fight to withhold information that has been deemed public, raising questions about transparency while taxpayers shoulder litigation costs.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
Definition of shoulder

Phrases Containing elbow

Browse Nearby Words

elations
elbow
elbowed
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Cite this Entry

“Elbow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elbow. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on elbow

Nglish: Translation of elbow for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elbow

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