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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Gore said in a statement that because the project has encountered issues, the department has been making efforts to improve transparency and accountability.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
18 Mar. 2026
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With the state of emergency, response and recovery efforts are offered to Alcona, Alpena, Delta, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Roscommon and Wexford counties.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Though the system managed only a dim glow, Lorna was still grateful for the flick of a switch rather than the toil of refilling oil lamps and trimming candles.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
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There has to be a chance that Jos Buttler’s toils in Sri Lanka and India represent his last ventures on the international stage, and therefore the end of an era.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Back in 2023, food writer Tejal Rao called out how Noma’s trophy dishes like its fruit beetle were the result of hours-long unpaid drudgery.—
Shindy Chen
March 13,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
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These women, including Mary Ann M’Clintock, Amelia Bloomer, and Martha Coffin Wright, provided a respite from the drudgery of child rearing.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Even for those who complete it, Santas warned of overuse injuries, excessive fatigue and burnout due to unclear intensity guidance and zero recovery days.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
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Skipping a Walk After Meals After a carb-heavy meal, blood sugar spikes and then drops sharply, a pattern linked to fatigue, anxiety, and overeating.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Infiniti, Nissan’s luxury division, has been stuck in a malaise for years now in large part tied to the travails of its corporate parent, but, lately, there have been some signs of life, including, possibly, a new manual performance sedan.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
11 Mar. 2026
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Consider the recent travails of bride-to-be Lauren Johnson.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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That committee approved a set of different designs, which included images related to the abolition of slavery, the Civil Rights Movement and women's suffrage.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
22 Mar. 2026
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Amid all the admiring, even nostalgic, books and films commemorating America’s revolutionary beginnings in the lead-up to our country’s 250th birthday, Ellis’ book examines the underside of that time, specifically the failure to end slavery, and the failure to avoid Indian removal.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spadework.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spadework. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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