1
as in to emphasize
to speak or write about insistently and usually tiresomely
stop belaboring the fact that they're already in debt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to attack
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
there's no need to belabor other people's flaws when you're hardly perfect yourself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
with a whip he belabored a horse almost to the point of death
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of belabor
Jones belabored this point as well, once again citing packing too much and how a broken zipper can quickly turn messy if security is unable to quickly re-pack your belongings.
—
Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 13 Feb. 2026
This isn’t to belabor the point of the final three weeks, because the Chiefs didn’t exactly have much of anything to play for.
—Sam McDowell 9, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2026
Perhaps that’s why the Dardennes don’t belabor the dynamics among the mothers themselves, who all get along well enough.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2026
The movie is effervescent; there’s nothing belabored about it.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belabor
Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 13 Feb. 2026
This isn’t to belabor the point of the final three weeks, because the Chiefs didn’t exactly have much of anything to play for.
—Sam McDowell 9, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2026
Perhaps that’s why the Dardennes don’t belabor the dynamics among the mothers themselves, who all get along well enough.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2026
The movie is effervescent; there’s nothing belabored about it.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belabor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belabor
Verb
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Cavender, meanwhile, focused on fiscal discipline, public safety resources and neighborhood quality, while Crow emphasized affordability and community engagement in budget decisions.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
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Rather than steering young people exclusively toward high-paying technical fields like computer science, a growing number are emphasizing the long-term value of skills often associated with a humanities or liberal arts education.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
Verb
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In fact, the Sixers will be better equipped to attack this Knicks flaw if Embiid can return at any point in the series.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
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In one of the evening’s most striking moments, Raman accused Bass and Pratt of working together to attack her.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Gilgeous-Alexander licked his chops at what Game 1 presented.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
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But host Kristen Kish is licking her lips at the prospect of taking the show even further afield in the future.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Rogers scolded Musk on Tuesday morning for his recent social media posts about the trial and threatened a gag order before the jury arrived in the courtroom.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
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Or tie scolds to the ducking stool again.—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Should Congress do more to hold the president accountable?—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
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Wins and losses in this league for starters are highly dependent on a lot of other guys doing their jobs as well.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The world’s second largest economy has been relatively insulated from the historic global oil crisis slamming its neighbors – including key regional US allies – due to China’s huge oil reserves, its high level of energy self-sufficiency and its early shift to green energy.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
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These shards travel billions of light-years across the universe and slam into Earth’s atmosphere.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 May 2026
Verb
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To add order, cabinets hide toys, there’s a small desk for homework, and East London Cloth café curtains filter the light.—
Katherine Burns Olson,
Architectural Digest,
1 May 2026
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The Harrison County Health Department notes dark clothing resembles the shadows mosquitoes hide in.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Over just four days this month, Milei, an avid user of X, wrote 86 posts taunting and insulting journalists, according to an analysis of his feed between April 2 and 5 by prominent Argentine daily La Nación.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
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Late at night, the staff are known for insulting anyone brave enough to step up to the counter.—
Jimmy Jellinek,
SPIN,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belabor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belabor. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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