1
as in laboring
to devote serious and sustained effort
plodded night and day to get the assignment done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stumbling
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
oxen plodding through deep mud
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dragging
to move slowly
plodded reluctantly off to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in shuffling
to move heavily or clumsily
wayfarers plodding across the sandy wastes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in relentless
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in ambling
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plodding
Judy Berman, Time, 5 Aug. 2025
Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
The two fighters advanced, Ali jogging enthusiastically and Frazier plodding, cautious.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Creating stores of reliable data and the systems needed to power them—the core of most companies’ ongoing digital transformation efforts—is plodding work.
—Emily Acton, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
On top of this, the game’s plodding pace, laborious puzzles, and sluggish character movement left us at the edge of our wits, rather than our seats.
—Echo Apsey, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Still, some 90 Guard members were among the forces seen plodding through the popular park where children with a day camp played.
—Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2025
In the east of Ukraine, Russian forces meanwhile continued to make plodding but significant advances, while the authorities in Kyiv grew more eager for a ceasefire, as did their constituents.
—Simon Shuster, Time, 8 Aug. 2025
Vince Vaughn, plodding and weary-eyed, plays Easy, a Vegas nightclub singer who’s just trying to do respectable work in whatever venue will have him.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
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
Adjective
The Room 13 maze perfectly matches the tired, plodding and slow jazz soundtrack.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
The two fighters advanced, Ali jogging enthusiastically and Frazier plodding, cautious.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Creating stores of reliable data and the systems needed to power them—the core of most companies’ ongoing digital transformation efforts—is plodding work.
—Emily Acton, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
On top of this, the game’s plodding pace, laborious puzzles, and sluggish character movement left us at the edge of our wits, rather than our seats.
—Echo Apsey, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Still, some 90 Guard members were among the forces seen plodding through the popular park where children with a day camp played.
—Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2025
In the east of Ukraine, Russian forces meanwhile continued to make plodding but significant advances, while the authorities in Kyiv grew more eager for a ceasefire, as did their constituents.
—Simon Shuster, Time, 8 Aug. 2025
Vince Vaughn, plodding and weary-eyed, plays Easy, a Vegas nightclub singer who’s just trying to do respectable work in whatever venue will have him.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plodding
Verb
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With The Fulfillment, the sub-context is how clout culture is a currency, how attention itself has become a currency, just like our laboring bodies are.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
19 Sep. 2025
-
While such a scenario sounds potentially maudlin and manipulative, Lucero — who wrote the film from a personal place — never allows that to happen by making the characters complex and flawed, and laboring under real-life issues.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The episode ends with a surreal, graphic deepfake scene of a totally nude Donald Trump stumbling around a desert.—
Nick Marx,
The Conversation,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Inside the agency, Dudek, ill-prepared for leadership or for DOGE’s murky agenda, was stumbling through the chaos in part by creating some of his own.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For Thiago’s second goal midway through the first half, Ouattara ambled back towards his own goal down the centre of the pitch, dragging Shaw and Dorgu with him.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The clip ends with the owner managing to open the door—dragging the golden retriever along with it—as their other pets enter the frame to see them off.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The video shows agents ducking for cover in front of two white vans while quickly shuffling detainees inside the facility, where an ICE agent frantically guided the detainees down a hallway.—
Peter D'Abrosca , Brooke Taylor,
FOXNews.com,
26 Sep. 2025
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Instead of shuffling through the deep cabinet shelves for small jars, attach rows of slim shelves with dowel rods to safely hold a few dozen spices.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Parrilla’s character is described as the ruthless proprietor of a shadowy electronic brothel whose obsession sets her on a relentless pursuit.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
30 Sep. 2025
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But against relentless pressure from both the Green Bay Packers and Lions, Flacco, on multiple occasions, kept things from getting worse by avoiding sacks and other disastrous plays.—
Zac Jackson,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Maybe new additions will boost a struggling position group.—
Antonio Morales,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The ever-paranoid Ally believes all of these headscratchers are part of a Trumpian conspiracy that's out to get her, but audiences were left struggling to connect the dots.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ohio State’s win against Texas is still fine, but the Longhorns have looked disappointing, too, after trudging through a 27-10 win against UTEP.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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In the engaging trailer that continues the sinister tale of Vault-Tec, The Ghoul arrives in New Vegas alongside Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell) and Dogmeat, trudging into the outskirts of New Vegas.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For a child who’s crawling or walking, a mat with pop-up walls or fencing can keep your little one safe and contained.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
29 Sep. 2025
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Waking up an hour earlier than expected and being hosed with mountain runoff water while crawling in the pool tested my resilience and determination.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plodding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plodding. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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