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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Symbolic interactionism emphasizes how people build their identities through social roles and interactions.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
The man is nameless to emphasize both the singular and the universal nature of his situation.—
Deborah Treisman,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, supporters insist their goal is not to attack a student, but to defend women’s sports.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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Both sides accuse the other of intentionally attacking civilian targets.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The parallels between Ines’ dilemma and that of a nation being asked to lick its wounds in silence — in the name of moving on from past miseries — are present but elusive.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 May 2026
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At one point A’zion licks the digitally de-aged Mick Jagger’s face.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The feeling was less substantial, more childish, like expecting someone to walk in and scold you for doing something wrong and not knowing where to hide.—
Francesco Pacifico,
The Dial,
12 May 2026
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Stumbling on to this ruse, Antoine’s friend and manager Armand (Gilles Lellouche) immediately can tell Suzanne is a fake and scolds her for exploiting his friend’s grief.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The advantage that Republicans might hope to obtain by this November, could, hypothetically, grow even more if the Democrats did nothing before 2028.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
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Isn’t that what a team captain would do?—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Wanting to avoid running a red light, the trailer made a right-hand turn on yellow and slammed into a Santa Clarita Transit bus and two vehicles near the intersection of Golden Valley Road, according to the Sheriff’s Department.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
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One of these cosmic rays for instance, dubbed the Amaterasu particle (after the Japanese sun goddess) slammed into Earth in 2021 with an energy 40 million times greater than particles slammed together at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
13 May 2026
Verb
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That day, Riley had been editing a sequence in which Corvette sneaks into a San Francisco condo owned by Christie, her fashion idol, by hiding inside a coffee delivery cart.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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Bugs also tend to hide inside packaging, seams, or even the food itself.—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Someone stood up and insulted us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
-
Tuttle’s fearless inquisition won’t insult your intelligence, ask your mercy or hogtie your feelings.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belabor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belabor. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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