1
as in raking
to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement
we'll have to get out there and plow and plant both fields before it rains
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in laboring
to devote serious and sustained effort
plowed determinedly through the weighty tome
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plowing
Companies were plowing hundreds of billions of dollars, much of it borrowed, into building new data centers, but had no clear path to profitability.
—
Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 1 May 2026
The Eta Aquariids, sparked by Earth plowing through debris left behind by Halley’s Comet, peak on the night of May 5 to 6.
—Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
Despite the steady stream of guests plowing through the buffet, the staff have it under control.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Apr. 2026
Rather than plowing down anyone, a tackle is when a player slides feet first to dislodge the ball from an opposing player.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 25 Apr. 2026
This month, children learned about plowing and planting before planting their own seeds to take home.
—Caleb Grieger, Arkansas Online, 21 Apr. 2026
The family had installed a concrete barrier after a previous crash, a decision that may have prevented the car from plowing directly into their home.
—Tori Mason, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
While much of those duties are typical for his local office — picking up trash, plowing snow and filling potholes — the 34-year-old mayor has leaned on his knack for viral content creation to drive interest and awareness of government programs.
—ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Michigan spent most of this season – and all of the NCAA tournament – absolutely plowing through their opponents.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 1 May 2026
The Eta Aquariids, sparked by Earth plowing through debris left behind by Halley’s Comet, peak on the night of May 5 to 6.
—Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
Despite the steady stream of guests plowing through the buffet, the staff have it under control.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Apr. 2026
Rather than plowing down anyone, a tackle is when a player slides feet first to dislodge the ball from an opposing player.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 25 Apr. 2026
This month, children learned about plowing and planting before planting their own seeds to take home.
—Caleb Grieger, Arkansas Online, 21 Apr. 2026
The family had installed a concrete barrier after a previous crash, a decision that may have prevented the car from plowing directly into their home.
—Tori Mason, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
While much of those duties are typical for his local office — picking up trash, plowing snow and filling potholes — the 34-year-old mayor has leaned on his knack for viral content creation to drive interest and awareness of government programs.
—ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Michigan spent most of this season – and all of the NCAA tournament – absolutely plowing through their opponents.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plowing
Verb
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Even light raking can make a difference; if the seed is scattered on the surface with nothing hold it down, it will be carried away by the water.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
30 Apr. 2026
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Domínguez, meanwhile, has been raking at Triple-A since missing the cut for the Yankees’ Opening Day roster.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For the rest of us, the construction kickoff means delay upon delay as streets, avenues and roads are awash with heavy equipment and construction workers laboring with jackhammers, picks and shovels.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Trump poses as a pro-worker force, but his policies are atrocious for the laboring class.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Transferring household skills and cultivating emotional stability.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
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And with the rise of artificial intelligence and other technologies, innovative talent management strategies and state support systems, forward-thinking Maryland manufacturers have a host of new opportunities to solve the age-old challenge of cultivating the next generation of talent.—
Mike Kelleher,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When Wagner was healthy in the first four games, Cunningham was still getting his points, but getting them inefficiently, struggling to find rhythm against Wagner’s length and discipline.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
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After struggling in his first game back — which Boston won by 32 points to take a 3-1 series lead — the 2023 NBA MVP was a defining figure in Games 5, 6 and 7.—
Zack Cox,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Verb
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Gray’s crime thriller stars Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Miles Teller in a story about two brothers striving to achieve the American Dream only to get caught up with the Russian Mafia.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
7 May 2026
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In the shadows of the world’s most prestigious piano competition, a group of expert tuners spend a month striving to achieve perfect pitch—hoping that the eventual champion will perform on their instrument.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Wormser suggests tilling the ground and covering it with black plastic to deprive existing grass and weeds of sunlight.—
Ann Hinga Klein,
Martha Stewart,
28 Apr. 2026
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The film mostly exists as an exercise in further tilling personal earth that Romvari previously traversed in her short films.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Adjust the plan, and let that flexibility keep everything working without losing your own direction or sense of independence in the process.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
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Onscreen, the seduction was working.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plowing. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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