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
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
Talks had been ongoing for the past eight months, both sides had incurred about six-figures on legal bills hammering out the details, a major concert had been planned and a 1,200-word embargoed deal announcement was ready to go.
—Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Following weeks of escalating tensions, Beijing and Washington agreed in May to suspend the hefty duties and loosen several punitive measures imposed in April, as both sides continued to work on hammering out a durable deal.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2025
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
Talks had been ongoing for the past eight months, both sides had incurred about six-figures on legal bills hammering out the details, a major concert had been planned and a 1,200-word embargoed deal announcement was ready to go.
—Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Following weeks of escalating tensions, Beijing and Washington agreed in May to suspend the hefty duties and loosen several punitive measures imposed in April, as both sides continued to work on hammering out a durable deal.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hammering out
Verb
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Like its many siblings, EC 53 is encased by extremely hot dust and gas—exactly the type of environment capable of forging crystalline silicates.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
22 Jan. 2026
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Messenger Mercury is uniting with powerful Pluto, forging a group chat or community project into a focused mission — one that potentially needs your honest direction.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This is a developing story, please check back for updates.—
Mona Darwish,
Oc Register,
23 Jan. 2026
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The Tech Shift Netflix has been making a transition from depending on Microsoft’s technology to developing its own in-house advertising technology stack.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After working up an appetite in the more temperate months, meals can be taken at the outdoor dining pavilion alongside the home.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
26 Jan. 2026
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To this day, working up a mess of beans soothes and centers me.—
Sheri Castle,
Southern Living,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The federal agency was tasked with creating and enforcing rules to protect consumers from abusive practices across a range of financial institutions.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
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Its acquisition of Calpine closed on January 7, 2026, creating a footprint encompassing 21 nuclear reactors and over 50 natural gas plants.—
Jon Markman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Our tester, Alexandra, spends a lot of time swimming and working out, so a formula that tackles grease and sweat is paramount in her routine.—
Olivia Rose Rushing,
InStyle,
7 Jan. 2026
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Comeback season is also when the five really hone in on self-care, Yeji emphasizing sleep and working out and Chaeryeong fitting stretches into her rituals.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hammering out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammering%20out. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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