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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hammering out
Verb
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Together with Shaway Yeh, then group style editorial director of Modern Media, Lim transformed Modern Weekly, a regional lifestyle weekly founded by the Chinese entrepreneur Thomas Shao in 1993, into a Chinese media powerhouse known for forging creative ties with both global and Asian creatives.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
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But without a finished 10th novel to work from (Gabaldon is currently in progress on her final Outlander volume, called A Blessing for a Warrior Going Out), Roberts and team had to toe a fine line between honoring the essence of the book series and forging their own path forward.—
Amy Wilkinson,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In the future, it could be used for developing high-performance, sustainable materials for everything from aerospace engineering to advanced protective gear.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
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This is a developing story and has been updated.—
Anna Chernova,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Cloudripper is breathable and moisture-wicking, perfect for working up a sweat.—
Anna Callaghan,
Outside,
14 Feb. 2026
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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
Verb
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When creating the outfits for the first 2001 Bridget Jones cast, Fleming sought to give Jones — whose diary entries detailed her romantic adventures, weight, and alcohol and cigarette consumption — a pragmatic, somewhat disheveled look that would feel relatable to busy women.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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The wreath is made with artificial jasmine, lavender, and daisies, as well as other wildflowers, creating a vibrant piece for your front door.—
Jamie Weissman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For the past two decades or so, Zurek has been working out how that happens.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Feb. 2026
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Some of them lived together, were working out together.—
Matt Zahn,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hammering out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammering%20out. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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