1
a
: a weight attached especially to an animal to hinder motion
b
: something that shackles or impedes : encumbrance sense 1
c
: a mass of material that blocks movement through a pipe or vessel
clearing a clog in the kitchen sink
2
: a shoe, sandal, or overshoe having a thick typically wooden sole
clogged; clogging; clogs
1
2
a
: to fill beyond capacity : overload
cars clogged the main street
—often used with uppetty cases clogging up the courts
b
: to cause blockage in
—often used with up
arteries clogged up by cholesterol
1
: to become filled with extraneous matter
—often used with up
2
: to unite in a mass : clot
3
: to dance a clog dance
Synonyms
Examples of clog in a Sentence
Noun
There's a clog in the kitchen sink.
a liquid chemical that gets rid of clogs
Verb
The sink was clogged by dirt and grease.
The drain clogs easily because the opening is so small.
Recent Examples on the Web
Fritz Hahn, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Beyond cashmere sweaters and linen sheets, Quince’s other bestsellers include an organic Turkish waffle robe, a 100 percent mulberry silk pillowcase, and a pair of Australian shearling clog slippers.
—Blake Bakkila, Sunset Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024
For long days of travel, pair them with a cozy sweatshirt and clogs, or for brunch and other plans in the city, add a sweater, puffer vest, and your go-to sneakers.
—Bridget Degnan, Travel + Leisure, 8 Dec. 2023
California Tenant rights lawyer Ysabel Jurado will face Councilmember Kevin de León in runoff
March 14, 2024
Wearing mom jeans, a bright yellow sweater blouse and clogs, Jurado busied herself as about a dozen staffers rolled in.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Head to Rue La La now to refresh your spring shoe collection and stock up on new Birkenstock sandals and clogs.
—Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024
With a wooden sole, good arch support, and a cushioned footbed, clogs are designed to be functional and protective — all without compromising style.
—Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 10 Feb. 2024
Shoppers can choose from styles such as the Echo clog or the Classic Lined clog.
—Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Nov. 2023
Rumors ranging from China paying off officials to the state scheming to steal the water from the Klamath clog social media sites.
—The Arizona Republic, 16 Feb. 2024
Michael Carroll, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
The sidewalks were clogged with news crews from around the world.
—Lachlan Cartwright, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
With the shipping channel clogged with debris, the people and businesses who depend on the port for their living are in limbo.
—David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
The dual roller system even has concealed scrapers that keep the rollers from getting clogged with hair (the bane of every bot's existence in my house).
—Anthony Karcz, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Developing a sprayer that can reliably brighten clouds is no easy feat, because seawater tends to clog up as salt builds up.
—Sabrina Weiss, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024
The Chinese government’s drive for control and self-reliance has intensified in recent years, but the long-term pattern is consistent: Beijing has always clogged free markets to protect its political interests and promote its own corporate champions.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2024
Home prices could get pulled down then, too, since part of the reason the housing market is so tight is because people — especially those avoiding high mortgage rates — are staying put and clogging available inventory.
—Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
Authorities said that hundreds of rolls clogged the freeway for hours and blocked two lanes of traffic in the Los Angeles County city.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 13 Mar. 2024
Noun
Manifest seems like a thoughtful combo: an old-school barbershop up front, including optional hot lather shaves, and a boutique stocked with hoodies from Marni, clogs from Needles, and a variety of expensive hair and face products.
—Fritz Hahn, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Beyond cashmere sweaters and linen sheets, Quince’s other bestsellers include an organic Turkish waffle robe, a 100 percent mulberry silk pillowcase, and a pair of Australian shearling clog slippers.
—Blake Bakkila, Sunset Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024
For long days of travel, pair them with a cozy sweatshirt and clogs, or for brunch and other plans in the city, add a sweater, puffer vest, and your go-to sneakers.
—Bridget Degnan, Travel + Leisure, 8 Dec. 2023
California Tenant rights lawyer Ysabel Jurado will face Councilmember Kevin de León in runoff
March 14, 2024
Wearing mom jeans, a bright yellow sweater blouse and clogs, Jurado busied herself as about a dozen staffers rolled in.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Head to Rue La La now to refresh your spring shoe collection and stock up on new Birkenstock sandals and clogs.
—Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024
With a wooden sole, good arch support, and a cushioned footbed, clogs are designed to be functional and protective — all without compromising style.
—Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 10 Feb. 2024
Shoppers can choose from styles such as the Echo clog or the Classic Lined clog.
—Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Nov. 2023
Rumors ranging from China paying off officials to the state scheming to steal the water from the Klamath clog social media sites.
—The Arizona Republic, 16 Feb. 2024
Verb
Artichoke Artichoke is known for its abundance of nutrients that can reduce the amount of cholesterol that clogs the arteries.
—Michael Carroll, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
The sidewalks were clogged with news crews from around the world.
—Lachlan Cartwright, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
With the shipping channel clogged with debris, the people and businesses who depend on the port for their living are in limbo.
—David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
The dual roller system even has concealed scrapers that keep the rollers from getting clogged with hair (the bane of every bot's existence in my house).
—Anthony Karcz, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Developing a sprayer that can reliably brighten clouds is no easy feat, because seawater tends to clog up as salt builds up.
—Sabrina Weiss, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024
The Chinese government’s drive for control and self-reliance has intensified in recent years, but the long-term pattern is consistent: Beijing has always clogged free markets to protect its political interests and promote its own corporate champions.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2024
Home prices could get pulled down then, too, since part of the reason the housing market is so tight is because people — especially those avoiding high mortgage rates — are staying put and clogging available inventory.
—Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
Authorities said that hundreds of rolls clogged the freeway for hours and blocked two lanes of traffic in the Los Angeles County city.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 13 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clog.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near clog
Cite this Entry
“Clog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clog. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clog
1 of 2 noun
ˈkläg 
ˈklȯg
1
: something that hinders or holds back
a clog in the drain
2
: a shoe or sandal having a thick usually wooden sole
clog
2 of 2 verb
clogged; clogging
1
: to get in the way of
2
: to block passage through
3
: to fill or become filled beyond capacity
heavy traffic clogged the roads
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share