bog down
phrasal verb
bogged down; bogging down; bogs down
1
: to cause (something) to sink in wet ground
The mud bogged down the car.
The car got bogged down in the mud.
—often used figurativelyIt's easy to get bogged down in details.
2
: to become stuck in wet ground
The car bogged down in the mud.
—often used figurativelyThe story bogs down after the second chapter.
Examples of bog down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But early signs of progress at the talks seemed to bog down in the tropical heat.
—
Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
My research—co-authored with colleagues from Stanford University, Microsoft, GitHub, and the Linux Foundation—has shown that generative AI excels at absorbing the administrative tasks that bog down employees, freeing them to concentrate on the creative and complex work that truly moves the needle.
—Frank Nagle, Fortune, 19 Nov. 2025
Republicans acknowledge a tidal wave of Democratic subpoenas and depositions would be enough to bog down Trump for the rest of his administration.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Differing regulations around the country can also bog down expansion plans, Waymo’s experience shows.
—Chris Kirkham, Nashville Tennessean, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bog down
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.
Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
My research—co-authored with colleagues from Stanford University, Microsoft, GitHub, and the Linux Foundation—has shown that generative AI excels at absorbing the administrative tasks that bog down employees, freeing them to concentrate on the creative and complex work that truly moves the needle.
—Frank Nagle, Fortune, 19 Nov. 2025
Republicans acknowledge a tidal wave of Democratic subpoenas and depositions would be enough to bog down Trump for the rest of his administration.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Differing regulations around the country can also bog down expansion plans, Waymo’s experience shows.
—Chris Kirkham, Nashville Tennessean, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bog down
Cite this Entry
“Bog down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bog%20down. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share