PLUGGING (UP) Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

plugging (up)

verb

present participle of plug (up)

as in stopping (up)

to prevent passage through by filling with something hair plugged up the drain

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plugging (up)

Verb

In May, Darwin filed a preliminary injunction, temporarily blocking the state from imposing the new rules.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
The other thing that’s happening is that the federal government is affirmatively blocking state and local investigators from conducting their own separate probes.

— Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026

Definition of blocking

Verb

Dugan's case marked the first time that a state judge in Wisconsin went to trial on charges of obstructing immigration agents.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Dugan’s case was a first for Wisconsin Dugan’s case marked the first time that a state judge in Wisconsin went to trial on charges of obstructing immigration agents.

— Claire Savage, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Definition of obstructing

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.

Browse Nearby Words

plugging (away)

plugging (up)

plug hat

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Plugging (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plugging%20%28up%29. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of plugging (up)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

xeric

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes