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
Pritzker needs to take a hands-on approach, gathering all the stakeholders well in advance of the November veto session and hammering out a workable regimen, to ensure lawmakers have something on which to vote.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
Stocks fell sharply early in Thursday's session, but steadily clawed their way back as investors appeared to take heart from news reports that Iran and Oman are hammering out a plan to oversee traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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 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
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
Stocks fell sharply early in Thursday's session, but steadily clawed their way back as investors appeared to take heart from news reports that Iran and Oman are hammering out a plan to oversee traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hammering out
Verb
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As American wine continues to evolve, the story is less about competing with Europe than about forging a distinctly American identity.
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The new operation strengthens critical capacities within ATI’s forging flow path, helping customers address persistent aerospace supply chain constraints.
Verb
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Jamal Musiala spent much of his childhood in England, developing his game in Chelsea’s youth academy and playing for England’s youth teams with his close friend Jude Bellingham.
-
Despite being at the center of this season’s developing drama, rookie deckhand Luke is a bit of a cypher.
Verb
-
Some have already talked to a parent; others are working up the nerve.
-
While working up the nerve to kill her, Loftis discovers that Ruth is secretly the mother of his late wife Lauren (Meredith Casey), making his son Evan (Kingston Rumi Southwick) the final descendant.
Verb
-
Unlike scenic destinations that become part of a wedding backdrop, Walshe said Madison Square Garden presents the opposite challenge because designers would first have to erase the venue's familiar arena feel before creating something entirely new.
-
And that means creating connections that are outside of a computer screen.
Verb
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Sorrell prepared for the opportunity by working out with Parsons this offseason in Dallas for roughly six weeks.
-
Her feed is stuffed with photos of her biking, skiing, climbing, working out, often in outfits from Skinfit, from which her followers can get ten per cent off.
Cite this Entry
“Hammering out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammering%20out. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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