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plug 1 of 2

verb

Definition of plugnext
1
as in to fill
to close up so that no empty spaces remain plugged the hole in the wall with putty

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to struggle
to devote serious and sustained effort plugged away at solving the math problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to promote
to provide publicity for the actress is giving lots of interviews to plug her latest movie

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to shoot
to strike with a missile from a gun the drug lord plugged the stool pigeon as a lesson for any others who were tempted to talk

Synonyms & Similar Words

plug

2 of 2

noun

1
as in ad

Related Words
2
as in cob

Related Words
3
as in hook

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of plug
Verb
The worker told investigators that a drain valve had been plugged since last year and never closed completely. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026 Others have been accused of exploiting the relatively affordable policies to acquire residency by creating shell companies, prompting calls to plug loopholes. — Christine Miyawaki, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
Paramount did not respond early Monday to request for comment on Bonta’s pulling of the meeting plug. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026 Nearly six years after the ComEd Four case was indicted, the plug isn’t being pulled just yet. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plug
  1. fill
  2. struggle
  3. promote
  4. shoot
  5. ad
  6. cob
  7. hook
  8. pack
Verb
  • Meyer Turku Shipyard in Finland floated out the massive Hero of the Seas last Friday as the ship’s dry dock was filled with more than 90 million gallons of water overnight.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Those who bought a vase were able to bring it home filled with fresh flowers.
    — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of fill
Verb
  • Underwood, then a true freshman, struggled in that meeting, and his inconsistent play against Western Michigan (12-of-22 passing) has led to questions about his job status.
    — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Despite being one of Africa’s largest oil producers, the Dangote Refinery initially struggled to secure enough domestic crude and had to turn to international suppliers at a premium.
    — Nana Menya Ayensu, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of struggle
Verb
  • In 2020, the Indian government cut the merchant discount rate, the fee incurred by merchants for accepting payments via UPI, to zero to promote digital transactions in the country.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026
  • After decades of promoting the film, Wong’s short feature about her China trip was finally aired throughout the United States on ABC television on February 14, 1957.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of promote
Verb
  • While Taylor did not appear in the gallery of photos, she was included in a group shot that the Clé Cachée founder posted on her Instagram Stories during the trip.
    — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Awartani was shot in the chest and the bullet ricocheted off his scapula, causing paraplegia in his spinal cord.
    — Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of shoot
Noun
  • Aflac initially gained a bigger profile after introducing its duck mascot in 1999, in ads crafted by Kaplan Thaler Group, an independent agency that was eventually acquired by Publicis Groupe of France.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Cudi claims that those not close to Ye can’t see the progress he’s made on his mental health; early this year, Ye apologized in an ad taken out of the WSJ in January for his antisemitic behavior.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of ad
Noun
  • To freeze, cut the kernels off the cob after cooking and store them in an airtight container for up to 9 months in the freezer.
    — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2026
  • To eat it, remove the husk and silk, rinse the cob well under cool running water, and then taste a kernel.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of cob
Noun
  • Steinem had likened wearing the bunny suit to feeling like meat on a hook.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Another scam promises a free Medicare Health Kit The second campaign uses a different hook.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of hook
Verb
  • Saturday’s match may have been short on true quality but still packed a punch, with Wrexham furious that home substitute Ben Cabango was shown only a yellow card by referee Elliot Bell for a wild challenge on O’Hare.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Cinnamon and pecans pack the breakfast or snack bread with even more flavor.
    — Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of pack

Phrases Containing plug

Browse Nearby Words

plucky
plug
plug (away)
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Cite this Entry

“Plug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plug. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on plug

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about plug

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