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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In a separate statement, Rodríguez’s press office said both sides agreed to work on forging a bilateral cooperation plan to fight drug trafficking in the region, along with migration and terrorism.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
19 Feb. 2026
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Its former treasurer, Amanda DeVos, resigned July 14 following felony charges related to allegedly forging documents.—
Nick El Hajj,
Des Moines Register,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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However, adults 65 years and older and children younger than two are at higher risk of developing complications from the flu.—
Koko Nakajima,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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Clearer information on the strength, track, and timeline of the storm will become more available later today into Friday as computer models are able to better sample the pieces of energy that will merge into this developing coastal storm.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Instead of traditionally starting at 100 pounds and working up to 235 pounds, this year’s matches started at 140 pounds.—
Cody Thorn,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Feb. 2026
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The Cloudripper is breathable and moisture-wicking, perfect for working up a sweat.—
Anna Callaghan,
Outside,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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MangoAI is a stealth-mode company, whose technology can be used for creating short videos for advertising.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
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Interested consumers now have a range of options, though all are costly, not covered by insurance and carry risks like overdiagnosis or creating a false sense of security.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But recent social media posts this week showed that the receiver was working out in Kansas City.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
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Kennedy’s proclivity for working out in belted denim long predates the knowing wink with which it’s now displayed.—
Daniel Engber,
The Atlantic,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hammering out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammering%20out. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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