as in effort
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Recent Examples of spadework
As with Joe Biden and Barack Obama before him — and, indeed, as in his first term — Trump’s flurry of orders is the product of a legislative branch that has been content to leave the spadework to the president, and to a presidency that has begun to take cynical advantage of that trend.
—
The Editors, National Review, 22 Jan. 2025
But the loss at the Mercedes plants will almost surely slow down the union’s campaign and probably force it to do more spadework to secure the support of workers before seeking to hold elections at other auto plants.
—Jack Ewing, New York Times, 17 May 2024
In this peacemaking effort, the United States would have to do almost all the spadework.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024
Early spadework for the new batch of projects also dates back to the City of Cleveland’s 2004 Waterfront District Plan.
—Steven Litt, cleveland, 26 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for spadework
The Editors, National Review, 22 Jan. 2025
But the loss at the Mercedes plants will almost surely slow down the union’s campaign and probably force it to do more spadework to secure the support of workers before seeking to hold elections at other auto plants.
—Jack Ewing, New York Times, 17 May 2024
In this peacemaking effort, the United States would have to do almost all the spadework.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024
Early spadework for the new batch of projects also dates back to the City of Cleveland’s 2004 Waterfront District Plan.
—Steven Litt, cleveland, 26 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for spadework
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spadework
Noun
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The lawsuit, which was ultimately dismissed, alleged these were attempts to block her reform efforts.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
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Museum curators were inspired to create the exhibition in an effort to display items that wouldn't otherwise be seen, Sarah Crawford, director of museum experience at Carnegie Museum of Natural History, told ABC News.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
His account reveals an author searching for his true self and finding it, amid unceasing toil, in the act of observation.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
-
The Premier League has brought toil.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The drudgery is real, even at this income tier, as the Miami Heat wind their way though this western swing of five games in seven nights, including Thursday night’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
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For Stroheim, the palaces and playgrounds of the rich are elaborate concealments of the drudgery and the squalor underlying comforts and luxuries—and even the bare necessities of everyday people.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
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All of that adds up to headaches, fatigue and body aches that last longer.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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Indeed, exercise in general improves fatigue, energy, and vitality, according to research, so getting in some movement first thing in the morning can do all that.—
Danielle Zickl,
Outside,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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However the travails of some of China’s biggest companies including real estate developers have weighed on the market, while deflationary pressure may dampen future growth.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
2 Jan. 2026
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The opening head-to-toe-navy look, featured here, immediately drove his thinking home, referencing the bleu de travail of French tradesmen and balancing a wider-than-standard cotton knit tie with utilitarian separates rendered in an unexpectedly drapey wool.—
Naomi Rougeau,
Robb Report,
7 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Fulton County Reparations Task Force, a volunteer group in Georgia’s most populous county, recently submitted a 636-page report on the harms the municipality dealt through slavery and discrimination against Black residents.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
8 Jan. 2026
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When Connecticut receives a report of human trafficking – or modern slavery – multiple agencies collaborate to determine the situation, rescue the victim and provide necessary services like housing, health care and mental health support, and prosecute the offender.—
Kaitlin McCallum,
Hartford Courant,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spadework.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spadework. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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