1
as in to struggle
to devote serious and sustained effort
plodded night and day to get the assignment done
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stumble
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
oxen plodding through deep mud
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in to shuffle
to move heavily or clumsily
wayfarers plodding across the sandy wastes
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plod
The Demon Deacons coach ran towards Belichick while removing his hat as the six-time Super Bowl champion coach plodded his way across the field for a blow-by handshake.
—
Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025
The first half of the film feels very slow and plodding.
—NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
Before the former became a modern classic, its debut was considered a touch plodding and a tad dark.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
Like most people who headed west on the trail, the Ziebers joined a larger group for safety during the five-month journey, their oxen plodding six days a week.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plod
Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025
The first half of the film feels very slow and plodding.
—NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
Before the former became a modern classic, its debut was considered a touch plodding and a tad dark.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
Like most people who headed west on the trail, the Ziebers joined a larger group for safety during the five-month journey, their oxen plodding six days a week.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plod
Verb
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Many houseplants, including tropicals and ferns, can struggle with the lower levels of humidity that occur in cold weather, when the air naturally holds less moisture.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
21 Jan. 2026
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New York sent infielder Luisangel Acuña and minor league pitcher Truman Pauley to Chicago for Robert, who has struggled with injuries and inconsistency since a stellar 2023 season.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Government agencies and businesses that invest in this training, and that insist every critical number survives a deterministic check, will capture AI's benefits without stumbling into its blind spots.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
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Dodge, still suffering the consequences of axing the popular previous generations of Charger and Challenger muscle cars, saw sales stumble down 28% compared with the previous year.—
Liam Rappleye,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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At one point, as Rummler is being dragged toward the building, the video captures blood streaming down his face and his attempts to reach toward his neck and his apparent struggle to breathe.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
15 Jan. 2026
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Yet the first episode drags on a bit, laying a ton of groundwork and backstory before the proper investigation begins.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The unit was constantly shuffled this season, and the Trojans deployed six different offensive line combinations while still managing to have one of the most efficient offenses in the Big Ten Conference under position coach Zach Hanson.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
14 Jan. 2026
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Tristan returns home and greets James while Siegfried shuffles the woman out the window.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mike, played by a rangy, companionable Hugh Jackman, is a striving singer in Milwaukee who has battled the bottle, cannot consistently pay his mortgage, and keeps himself going by appearing at the state fair dressed up to look (and sound) like Don Ho.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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Everybody loves putting on those Nora Efron classics, and the filmmakers here were striving to make something that was a modern answer to those that was in discussion with When Harry Met Sally and those greats.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But instead of a short gain, Allen and his mates trudged all the way into the end zone.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
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The Rams skipped across the country as a historic 10½-point favorite — biggest postseason spread in modern history — yet trudged home requiring a last-second touchdown pass from the unsinkable Matthew Stafford to a leaping Colby Parkinson.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As its offense crawled back, the defense forced three turnovers on downs.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
15 Jan. 2026
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The country is crawling with hot springs and spa retreats, like the famed Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Jenkins brutally stomped and punched Coto, who was severely injured and put on life support.—
Tony Aiello,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Take it slower and stomp a path through new snow or ski on a frozen pond.—
Ashlyn Ware,
Midwest Living,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plod. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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