PICK-AND-SHOVEL Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

pick-and-shovel

adjective

ˈpik-ən(d)-ˈshə-vəl

Definition of pick-and-shovel

as in challenging

requiring considerable physical or mental effort she loves coming up with the "big idea" but hates the actual pick-and-shovel work of starting a new business

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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.

Recent Examples of pick-and-shovel Since then, investors have treated the industrial stock as a pick-and-shovel AI play instead of a lagging conglomerate. — Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 2 July 2026 Investors have an insatiable appetite to fund the pick-and-shovel businesses underpinning data-center buildouts and Ford’s version of an AI pivot shows that even staid companies like the 122-year-old giant aren’t above the fray. — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 14 May 2026 So far with Big Tech spending at an all-time high—fueled by a fear of being left behind—the pick-and-shovel approach has been paying dividends. — Peter Andersen, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pick-and-shovel

Adjective

In April, DeepSeek rolled out previews of its latest V4 model, challenging OpenAI’s GPT and Google’s Gemini.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 2026
As a business owner, Maloney says, the most rewarding and most challenging aspect of the job is making all the decisions and solving every problem.

— Claire Hall, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026

Definition of challenging

Adjective

Strickland said even getting equipment on the road during construction can be difficult for farmers.

— Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 July 2026
While following the money may be difficult, there are other signs of the growing role of organized crime in politics.

— Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 25 July 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

Then again, allowing American companies to sell BPC-157 for human use could create the impression that the peptide, which hasn’t passed through the rigorous process the FDA uses to approve new drugs, nonetheless has the agency’s blessing.

— Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
Hydrogen requires specialized storage systems, dedicated airport infrastructure, and rigorous safety standards.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026

Definition of rigorous

Adjective

The company positions it as a daily-use model rather than one reserved only for the most demanding workloads.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026
Valdebebas sources describe Mourinho as demanding but approachable — someone who pushes players hard while remaining involved in every detail of training.

— Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 24 July 2026

Definition of demanding

Adjective

Not play-act, but do the real work, make the hard and noble choices, not forsake his vows but live by them.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Adding another employee, buying a new piece of equipment, or expanding into a larger space all become harder when the tax code penalizes those investments.

— Kent Strang, Boston Herald, 26 July 2026

Definition of hard

Adjective

My mom was at least as complicated as my dad, in terms of gender, mental illness, depression.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 July 2026
Trade grades are rarely straightforward, and this one is a little more complicated because the players lack lengthy track records.

— Chad Jennings, New York Times, 26 July 2026

Definition of complicated

Browse Nearby Words

pick

pick-and-shovel

pick at

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Style

“Pick-and-shovel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pick-and-shovel. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of pick-and-shovel

adjective

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