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
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
The civil trial between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively has been postponed for two months, belaboring an already laborious process.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belabor
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
The civil trial between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively has been postponed for two months, belaboring an already laborious process.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belabor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belabor
Verb
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Baugh, too, emphasized the generational divide.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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This emphasizes the attackers more.—
PJ Green
April 5,
Kansas City Star,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The woman told officers that at some point, Morehead came back and brutally attacked her, including punching her in the face and stomach and dragging her back inside.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Two minutes later, Towns attacked Onyeka Okongwu off the dribble for a dunk.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Both have walked away from battles licking their wounds.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
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Five caribou stood licking at the stain.—
Frank Glaser,
Outdoor Life,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When the second player protested the contact, Nicholson scolded the player, according to one parent.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Apr. 2026
-
What starts as a playful, casual parlor game suddenly turns incredibly dark, not just because of Emma’s confession but by Rachel’s sudden turn from loyal friend to judgmental scold.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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If the injury report didn’t say it, the first half did.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
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Odell Hager arrived as a client at ARC in 2015, after a judge ordered him to do so for carrying drugs.—
Alex Acquisto,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The crash happened Monday along Highway 65 in Franklin County, where officials say the vehicle left the roadway, crossed into the opposite lane and slammed into a tree line before catching fire.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
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When Daisy slams the bedroom door in frustration, June can’t help but smile at the cliched rebellion.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Children who give short answers, avoid eye contact, or seem overly eager to please may be hiding their true feelings.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
11 Apr. 2026
-
New York packs tons of it, and Mike Brown had no intention of hiding his hand against a potential playoff opponent.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And Cora is so good at threading needles on these issues, as in communicating his wishes without insulting this or that player.—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Saariaho never once loses control of momentum and never insults her own tastefulness.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belabor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belabor. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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