as in grinding (out)
to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort
the city council hammered out new commercial development regulations with input from residents, business owners, and environmental activists
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Recent Examples of hammering out
Aponte’s predecessor Kevin Abrams was the Giants‘ salary cap lead in previous years, most memorably hammering out the early versions of Daniel Jones’ contract extension in the lobby of the JW Marriott here in March 2023.
—
Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Artificial intelligence, real money When actors and studios arrived at the bargaining table this week to start hammering out the next SAG-AFTRA contract, a key figure in the conversation was not in the room.
—Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
The mayor has faced challenges with hammering out a compromise between the Black and Latino caucuses for the influential role; now Lawson, who is white, could be poised to clinch the spot.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
The statement said that Patagonia and Pattie Gonia—who uses female pronouns—spent several years hammering out an agreement over the activist’s use of the brand’s name.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
Following Witkoff and Kushner’s visit to the Kremlin in early December, a flurry of high-level diplomacy involving Zelensky and European leaders ensued, with much talk about hammering out the finer points of a potential agreement.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
Lawmakers have gone home for the holidays without hammering out a resolution to address the expiring ObamaCare subsidies as tensions flare amid health care negotiations.
—The Hill Staff, The Hill, 22 Dec. 2025
Similarly, structured equity entails hammering out a capital solution specific to each company; there is no formulaic approach.
—Mike Terwilliger, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
But behind the scenes, the utility was hammering out a deal with the Denver Broncos to sell 25 acres of its 36-acre campus.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 17 Sep. 2025
Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Artificial intelligence, real money When actors and studios arrived at the bargaining table this week to start hammering out the next SAG-AFTRA contract, a key figure in the conversation was not in the room.
—Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
The mayor has faced challenges with hammering out a compromise between the Black and Latino caucuses for the influential role; now Lawson, who is white, could be poised to clinch the spot.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
The statement said that Patagonia and Pattie Gonia—who uses female pronouns—spent several years hammering out an agreement over the activist’s use of the brand’s name.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
Following Witkoff and Kushner’s visit to the Kremlin in early December, a flurry of high-level diplomacy involving Zelensky and European leaders ensued, with much talk about hammering out the finer points of a potential agreement.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
Lawmakers have gone home for the holidays without hammering out a resolution to address the expiring ObamaCare subsidies as tensions flare amid health care negotiations.
—The Hill Staff, The Hill, 22 Dec. 2025
Similarly, structured equity entails hammering out a capital solution specific to each company; there is no formulaic approach.
—Mike Terwilliger, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
But behind the scenes, the utility was hammering out a deal with the Denver Broncos to sell 25 acres of its 36-acre campus.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hammering out
Verb
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Trump’s diplomatic approach is chaotic and relies on forging a reality that may – or may not – actually gain traction with the facts on the ground.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
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Nevertheless, developers are forging ahead, and one of the more successful VR studios is Owlchemy Labs.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The developing eye benefits from the brighter, more varied light and focusing that outdoors requires.—
John La Puma,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
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An ultrasound confirmed that Amelie is developing eggs, giving researchers another reason to track her movements.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Hope is getting dirty, working up a sweat and seeing action.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
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In the early 1990s, Porsche quietly began work on a V-10 engine for Formula 1; when that fell through, the idea sat on the shelf until the company began working up plans for a new Le Mans racer towards the end of the decade.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On the Island of the Gods, fresh ideas arrive like waves, creating a glorious cocktail of cultures and influences.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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One recalled how their oldest child once pushed an unplugged vacuum cleaner across the living room, carefully creating vacuum lines without actually cleaning anything.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Gas prices continue to rise in Massachusetts and commuters are working out ways to cut back on spending.—
Paul Burton,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
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Another way to cut down on decision fatigue while working out is to start with the same move, which creates another predictable routine.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hammering out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammering%20out. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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