the trenches

plural noun

: a place or situation in which people do very difficult work

These people are working every day down in the trenches to improve the lives of refugees.

Examples of the trenches in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Hightowers ignite the trenches, effectively trapping the greybeards between a wall of stone and a wall of fire. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Don’t take the chance of returning to the trenches, possibly suffering a catastrophic injury that could potentially put you in a wheelchair for life. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026

Defensively, Lennon probably won’t line up in the trenches this season, but he is expected to patrol the secondary as a starting safety. — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

While Trey dominates in the trenches for the Chiefs, Ashley works for the NFL as a manager in the league’s player engagement department, helping players navigate financial, physical and mental wellness. — Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for the trenches

• benches
• quenches
• wenches
• wrenches