ELBOW GREASE Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

elbow grease

noun

as in effort

the active use of energy in producing a result with a little polish and a lot of elbow grease, I was able to make the old silver teapot shine again

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of elbow grease Obviously, Valve and SteamOS are just a small piece of the Linux gaming pie, and most Windows PCs can be turned into Linux systems with a USB stick and some elbow grease. —

ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026 These tasks take only a few minutes each when done weekly, but skipping them for a month or two is when buildup becomes the kind of problem that requires real elbow grease. —

Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026 Putting in the elbow grease can be more powerful than a flashy college degree or pedigree—and the former Goldman Sachs CEO said great careers are actually ripe for the picking if professionals seize the moment and work hard. —

Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026 Among them was Placentia, where a decade of community service was celebrated with some elbow grease and care. —

Heather McRea, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elbow grease

Recent Examples of Synonyms for elbow grease

Noun

Eco effort Lake George is widely recognized as one of the cleanest and clearest lakes in the nation.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
The firing is sure to trigger even more scrutiny of CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss and her controversial efforts to overhaul the network news division.

— Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 3 June 2026