1
as in relentless
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2
as in ambling
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in laboring
to devote serious and sustained effort
plodded night and day to get the assignment done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stumbling
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
oxen plodding through deep mud
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dragging
to move slowly
plodded reluctantly off to work
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 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
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
But alternative reports from organizations like the Chicago Fed have shown an economy that’s plodding along.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2025
And although the modern age of gaming is mostly dominated by a Soulslike ethos of action that prioritizes methodical dodging and plodding, there are many fans who yearn for a return to the heyday of 2000s-era slash ‘em ups.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025
The Penguins beat the Rangers in a plodding affair to start the season, but this was more of a high-spirited, up-and-down game.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
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
Adjective
What truly hampers Regretting You is its inescapable unoriginality, its plodding, uninventive, unthoughtful attempts at swoon and heartbreak.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 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
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
But alternative reports from organizations like the Chicago Fed have shown an economy that’s plodding along.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2025
And although the modern age of gaming is mostly dominated by a Soulslike ethos of action that prioritizes methodical dodging and plodding, there are many fans who yearn for a return to the heyday of 2000s-era slash ‘em ups.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025
The Penguins beat the Rangers in a plodding affair to start the season, but this was more of a high-spirited, up-and-down game.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plodding
Adjective
-
Russia recruited some 420,000 personnel in 2024 and over 300,000 in 2025—numbers that have enabled its relentless, if costly, infantry assaults.—
Jack Watling,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Nov. 2025
-
His second goal for Bayern against Paris Saint-Germain recently illustrated the relentless drive to win the ball back and create a chance for a teammate or, in that instance, himself.—
The Athletic's Liverpool staff,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Dodgers then knocked off the Giants in the NL Division Series, though Scherzer lost his Game 3 start – allowing three hits and a run on Evan Longoria’s game-deciding homer while laboring seven innings and 110 pitches.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
26 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
Seven years of stumbling around.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
After stumbling into a massive camp full of refugees from Nilfgaard’s ongoing campaign, Geralt winds up witness to a witch trial.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Apart from being walking-friendly enough for commuting to and from the office, the relatively comfortable heel also gives your denim, maxidresses, and trousers a little lift, keeping hems from dragging.—
Shelby Ying Hyde,
Glamour,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Introducing a 50-year mortgage could help individuals and families facing higher borrowing and homeownership costs, but experts warn that any benefit could be easily outweighed by dragging on payments for 20 years longer than the standard 30-year term.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
So, if the Phillies were to target Bichette, there would be some sort of shuffling in the infield.—
Patrick McAvoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
-
In 2022, Kelsey pleaded guilty to illegally shuffling money from his state Senate campaign account to his federal congressional campaign account.—
Vivian Jones,
Nashville Tennessean,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Orbital collision warnings can be unremitting.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Sep. 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
-
Advertisement Her victory also carries national implications for Democrats, who are struggling to chart a path between progressive energy and centrist caution ahead of the 2026 midterms.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Always Greener, which scored 15 nominations on the annual Brit List, is a high concept script that follows a struggling artist, haunted by past failure, who is given a one-in-a-million chance to become his rich and successful doppelganger from a parallel universe.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plodding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plodding. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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