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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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 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 Save the elbow grease and use a dryer sheet on the stubborn food residue instead. —

Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026 Spare yourself some elbow grease and invest in this rechargeable set for all your bottle cleaning needs. —

Pamela Brill, Parents, 7 Apr. 2026 Thankfully, this handy tool provides a boost of elbow grease. —

Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 5 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elbow grease

Recent Examples of Synonyms for elbow grease

Noun

Bahamian authorities assisted with rescue efforts, but did not deploy anyone to the scene, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) told CBS News.

— Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
That first strike came courtesy of Catherine Dubois, a versatile depth forward, who was moved onto Montreal’s top line beside Poulin and Laura Stacey in an effort to spread out the team’s offense.

— Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 13 May 2026