1
as in relentless
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2
as in ambling
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in laboring
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 stumbling
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
oxen plodding through deep mud
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3
as in dragging
to move slowly
plodded reluctantly off to work
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4
as in shuffling
to move heavily or clumsily
wayfarers plodding across the sandy wastes
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plodding
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
His jogging gait is a bit plodding.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
His two-time matchup was Alejandro Kirk, an excellent hitter but, at 5-foot-8 and 245 pounds, a plodding runner.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Where the film falters is in its plodding rhythm and clunky dialogue, much of which is delivered too flatly by actors who don’t exactly steal their scenes.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
At a plodding pace, the desert wilderness can be admired in all its granular splendor.
—Anna Zacharias, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Jan. 2026
But the small lineup has helped with spacing, creating more driving lanes for Dent while also allowing Bilodeau to beat more plodding counterparts on offense.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Wisconsin was one of the nation’s most plodding teams under former coach Bo Ryan and continued that way under former assistant Greg Gard, as recently as two seasons ago ranking in the 300s in Division I in tempo.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025
Occasionally, as in the obscurity of Legion’s later episodes or the plodding pace of some Fargo plots, this approach can verge on self-indulgence.
—Judy Berman, Time, 5 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
Previous to that, markets had expected multiple cuts this year in an effort to shore up the plodding labor market.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
This plodding approach is why NASA’s new administrator, Jared Isaacman, overhauled the Artemis program in February.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
This plodding approach is why NASA’s new administrator Jared Isaacman overhauled the Artemis program in February.
—Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The production of interceptors has been plodding.
—Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Prior to this life explosion, Bill was a casual runner, plodding along in a few marathons and Ironmans.
—Outside Online, 18 Feb. 2026
Dust icily exposes how character can evaporate in the crucible of greed, but the plodding pace makes this ethical exercise feel attenuated and flat by the time the climax rolls around.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
The buildup of naval assets off and around the coast of Iran is blunt and plodding.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Neither is known for having much of an off-the-dribble game that could hurt the plodding Porzingis or Horford.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
His jogging gait is a bit plodding.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
His two-time matchup was Alejandro Kirk, an excellent hitter but, at 5-foot-8 and 245 pounds, a plodding runner.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Where the film falters is in its plodding rhythm and clunky dialogue, much of which is delivered too flatly by actors who don’t exactly steal their scenes.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
At a plodding pace, the desert wilderness can be admired in all its granular splendor.
—Anna Zacharias, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Jan. 2026
But the small lineup has helped with spacing, creating more driving lanes for Dent while also allowing Bilodeau to beat more plodding counterparts on offense.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Wisconsin was one of the nation’s most plodding teams under former coach Bo Ryan and continued that way under former assistant Greg Gard, as recently as two seasons ago ranking in the 300s in Division I in tempo.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025
Occasionally, as in the obscurity of Legion’s later episodes or the plodding pace of some Fargo plots, this approach can verge on self-indulgence.
—Judy Berman, Time, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
The story was plodding, the characters frustrating, and the transitions through time poorly executed.
—Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
Previous to that, markets had expected multiple cuts this year in an effort to shore up the plodding labor market.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
This plodding approach is why NASA’s new administrator, Jared Isaacman, overhauled the Artemis program in February.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
This plodding approach is why NASA’s new administrator Jared Isaacman overhauled the Artemis program in February.
—Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The production of interceptors has been plodding.
—Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Prior to this life explosion, Bill was a casual runner, plodding along in a few marathons and Ironmans.
—Outside Online, 18 Feb. 2026
Dust icily exposes how character can evaporate in the crucible of greed, but the plodding pace makes this ethical exercise feel attenuated and flat by the time the climax rolls around.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
The buildup of naval assets off and around the coast of Iran is blunt and plodding.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plodding
Adjective
-
Yet, at the same time, relentless convenience (or being sold the idea of relentless convenience) warps the brain in ways that make nostalgic cravings somewhat inevitable.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Michaels is a comedy producer with a relentless work ethic, a keen eye for talent, and an undiminished faith in what other — increasingly much younger — people find funny.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Trump poses as a pro-worker force, but his policies are atrocious for the laboring class.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Put differently, eliminating tax on overtime reduces the number of hours each day that hourly workers are laboring not for themselves or their families but for the government.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lina cried out, stumbling backward.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Apple has gotten off to a rough start in AI after stumbling in its efforts to deliver new features built on the technology, as promised nearly two years ago.—
Michael Liedtke,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In a four-game span, the Philadelphia 76ers star received a technical foul for shoving Donte DiVincenzo, and flagrant fouls for dragging Mitchell Robinson to the floor and swiping Brunson in the head.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Throughout Orbán’s re-election campaign, the media controlled by his governing Fidesz party depicted Magyar as a reckless enemy of peace, bent on dragging Hungary into the war in neighboring Ukraine.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Of course, no rotation shuffling is imminent with Rodón expected to make at least three rehab starts and Cole moving at a slower pace following Tommy John surgery.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The famed Rendezvous Ballroom dance floor was so packed, couples would have to do their moves in a close embrace, posture upright while doing short half steps, swiftly shuffling their feet as the partners stepped out and in, over and over, in a rhythmic swing.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Patients with hemimegalencephaly can suffer from unremitting epilepsy and intellectual disabilities, and often need neurosurgery during infancy.—
Jerome Groopman,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
There seemed to be an element of sadomasochistic play in their relationship, of withholding and succumbing, that contravenes the popular sense of an unremitting dominant-submissive dynamic.—
Daphne Merkin,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
For this Nuggets lineup, the average comes out to a pedestrian 6-9, with three capable perimeter defenders to assist the heavy-footed centers, two 40% 3-point shooters to space the floor, and a surplus of play-making talent.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The Knicks whipped the ball around the perimeter before Brunson used a Towns screen as a decoy to freeze Gobert and launch a pass to Anunoby that he’s forced to catch in stride and blow past the heavy-footed center for a bucket.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That leaves firms which relied on cheap, abundant credit during the low-rate era of 2010s and early 2020s more exposed, with weaker companies struggling to roll over debt or exit investments.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Despite Magic guard Desmond Bane, clearly under the weather, struggling from beyond the arc but still managing to contribute 17 points.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plodding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plodding. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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