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

A student who is laughing while solving a challenging problem is still learning.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
Was working in the feature-length format freeing or more challenging?

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of challenging

Adjective

The outbreak is spreading under extremely difficult conditions, fueled by insecurity, displacement, a health workers' strike and intense population movements.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026
And widespread adoption by farmers is challenging because perennial crops don’t yield as much, harvesting can be difficult and the market still is developing.

— Joshua A. Bickel, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

Because of the heat wave's dramatic effect on everyday life, Paris became a tough place to walk around in the sunshine.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026
But Chipotle has been in a tough spot since Niccol departed in 2024, and even as Boatwright’s plan shows signs of momentum (same-store sales have begun to tick back up again), there are open questions about Chipotle’s strategic direction.

— Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

To classify a new fiber, the FTC requires its makers to demonstrate that the material is fundamentally different from existing fibers, established through a rigorous regulatory review.

— Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2026
Success in the exam, one of the most rigorous standardized tests in the world, allows students to study at Korea’s top universities.

— Lim Hui Jie,Miko Jang, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of rigorous

Adjective

Your character, Alex, is a literary agent, working in a demanding artistic field.

— Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
As industries increasingly operate equipment in extreme thermal and demanding environments, optical components must withstand conditions that can quickly degrade conventional materials.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of demanding

Adjective

The decision to construct the film around precisely five-minute takes presents a formidable formal and technical challenge.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
The Gateway defense was formidable, forcing seven negative plays in the first half, including four sacks, and limited the Eagles to 12 second-half snaps and one first down.

— Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of formidable

Adjective

John’s café rendezvous with equally complicated father-figure Hal ends with him punching the hotshot pilot in the face, in what turns out to be an ugly goodbye.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
The latest exercises demonstrated the basic training needed to operate the new tank so crews could progress to more complicated battlefield conditions, including environments with extensive drone disruption.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of complicated

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pick

pick-and-shovel

pick at

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“Pick-and-shovel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pick-and-shovel. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of pick-and-shovel

adjective

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