as in struggling
to devote serious and sustained effort
the writer pegged away at his first novel for three years before he felt that it was ready to be published
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pegging (away)
Verb
-
However, the technology has been moving faster than state regulations can accommodate, and lawmakers have been struggling to walk the line between innovation and patient safety.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026 -
And, for many borrowers struggling with debt, exploring alternatives like debt settlement or consolidation may offer significant relief without the complications that bankruptcy rules can create.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Those are the priorities Cronin respects, the mindset each Bruin needs to build the culture of toughness Cronin’s striving for.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Rather than striving for the common good, governing became a matter of navigating a legal maze, interrupted at will by naysayers.—
Philip K. Howard,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That’s right, the Patriot did in two seasons what the Dolphins have been laboring since 2008 to achieve.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
16 Dec. 2025
-
Mobley had been laboring to expand his range all offseason, launching thousands of 3s.—
Mirin Fader,
New York Times,
19 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Hardemon, working with Miami City Commission Chairwoman Christine King and CRA Executive Director James McQueen, imagined a future that put Overtown at the center of art and innovation.—
Dorothy Jenkins Fields,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Not working with the federal agency is not the response the City of Pittsburgh Republican Committee wanted to hear.—
Chris Hoffman,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Pegging (away).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pegging%20%28away%29. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
