APPLY (ONESELF) Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

apply (oneself)

verb

Definition of apply (oneself)

as in to buckle (down)

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for apply (oneself)

Verb

How well Boyd has been pitching in the last month is exactly what the Cubs need from the veteran over the final two months and into the postseason.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026
Keller, who was a 39th-round pick of the Yankees in the 2016 amateur draft, when there still was a 39th round, had not pitched in affiliated ball since 2022 when the Phillies signed him in May.

— Matt Gelb, New York Times, 25 July 2026

Definition of pitch in

Verb

Ultimately, past history casts a lot of doubt that cutting these categories is something the TV Academy will dig in its heels on, so we could be bound for a positive update.

— Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 21 July 2026
As the sides dig in heading into the final months before a potential lockout, here’s the data and the viewpoints from both sides.

— Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of dig in

Verb

Magadan had a deadly reputation in the Stalin era, as a hub for Gulag mines where political prisoners slaved sometimes to death and produced gold and other minerals in the process.

— Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Po’s journey begins while slaving away at his boring noodle job on the day the Dragon Warrior is to be chosen.

— Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Nov. 2025

Definition of slave

Verb

Teams will use the five-week gap between the races in Japan and Miami to knuckle down at their factories and develop car upgrades that could boost their fortunes upon returning to the track in May.

— Luke Smith, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
In survival mode, many brands have been forced to knuckle down and fortify their business strategies, in hopes of setting them up for success against a difficult backdrop.

— Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026

Definition of knuckle down

Verb

Astros starter Peter Lambert labored through a 25-pitch first inning.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
Still visibly laboring through the pain, Dias pulled on a pair of chaps that once belonged to Lane Frost, one of the most iconic figures in bull riding history.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026

Definition of labor

Verb

To heat-style, blow-dry curtain bangs away from the face, sweeping them from side to side with a paddle brush.

— Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 9 June 2026
Brian Cashman gets it all the time, but good, from Yankee fans; for them, banging away at Cashman on social media feels like the real national pastime.

— Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2025

Definition of bang away

Verb

Bills struggle to survive the legislative process Even when lawmakers agree on a proposal, getting it across the finish line presents another challenge.

— Nora O'Neill July 28, Charlotte Observer, 28 July 2026
Finding balance has been something France has struggled with since its success at the 2018 World Cup and Zidane will be tasked with combining France’s offensive arsenal with defensive rigidity behind them.

— Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 28 July 2026

Definition of struggle

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applying (to)

apply (oneself)

apply (to)

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“Apply (oneself).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apply%20%28oneself%29. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of apply (oneself)

verb

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