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
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Recent Examples of elbow grease
Some offer ergonomic designs, but all just need your elbow grease to operate.
—
Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2025
Options that are marketed to be compatible with multiple dryers were tested across a variety of dryers with different shapes and sizes to confirm the claim; those that slipped off the nozzle or took elbow grease to lock in were removed from our list.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
Get ready to roll up your sleeves and apply the elbow grease.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 17 Sep. 2025
To experience the preserve’s tranquility, visitors have to put in a little elbow grease.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for elbow grease
Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2025
Options that are marketed to be compatible with multiple dryers were tested across a variety of dryers with different shapes and sizes to confirm the claim; those that slipped off the nozzle or took elbow grease to lock in were removed from our list.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
Get ready to roll up your sleeves and apply the elbow grease.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 17 Sep. 2025
To experience the preserve’s tranquility, visitors have to put in a little elbow grease.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for elbow grease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elbow grease
Noun
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That merely meant coach Brian Dutcher didn’t have to delicately parcel out playing time while massaging egos on his Mariana Trench-deep roster, and the bench shortened by circumstance delivered a 77-45 win powered by a pair of true freshmen and a typically frenetic defensive effort.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
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As companies pour trillions into transformation efforts, few see lasting results.—
Jana Werner,
Harvard Business Review,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The team envisions this work accelerating the transition from laboratory prototypes to large-scale production, aligning closely with the nation’s carbon peaking and neutrality targets.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Nov. 2025
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Max Olson is writer-director and video artist based in New York & Los Angeles whose work aims to hold up a mirror to the restrictive structures of our world with an eye toward transcendence.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The movie takes pains to illustrate how the possible end of the world will begin like any other day.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
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Colleagues who failed to take similar pains earned his everlasting disdain.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elbow grease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elbow%20grease. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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