1
as in effort
the active use of energy in producing a result
save your sweat: no one will appreciate your efforts anyway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in labor
very hard or unpleasant work
it took years of sweat to bring the farm to the point where it is now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fear
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble
my boss told me not to get in a sweat about the accident—she'd make sure I wasn't blamed for it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in huff
a state of nervous or irritated concern
he always ends up in a sweat during tax season
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to struggle
to devote serious and sustained effort
spent the afternoon sweating over her tax returns
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to worry
to experience concern or anxiety
don't sweat over getting the application in a day late, as it probably doesn't matter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to drip
to flow forth slowly through small openings
the oil coat may sweat through this varnish
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to interrogate
slang
to put a series of questions to
the narcotics squad tried sweating the mule, but he was genuinely clueless about the inner workings of the drug operation
Synonyms & Similar 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 sweat
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
Martha Stewart sports her Alo sweat set for a trip to the grocery store in her hometown of Bedford Hills, New York, on April 4.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026
Madeline Merinuk, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
While my personal nature in that area is more of the high-level, 10,000-foot circus barker, big picture, don’t sweat the nickels, let the sunshine in – that model will not cut it today.
—Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sweat
Noun
Oil builds up, sweat happens and yesterday’s skincare products leave residue.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
Martha Stewart sports her Alo sweat set for a trip to the grocery store in her hometown of Bedford Hills, New York, on April 4.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
When styled with a pretty spring blouse and ballet flats, these sweats with a loose but tailored design will look indistinguishable from regular pants.
—Madeline Merinuk, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
While my personal nature in that area is more of the high-level, 10,000-foot circus barker, big picture, don’t sweat the nickels, let the sunshine in – that model will not cut it today.
—Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sweat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweat
Noun
-
Castle Rock offered grants to support efforts to commemorate the 150th anniversary.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Each product is designed to work synergistically, delivering visible results with minimal effort, no guesswork involved.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Court documents show the school paid Olivares more than $220,000 beginning last year for materials and labor to fix the roof.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The latest reform also failed to address the lack of education and support for employers navigating the state’s more than 1,100-page labor code.—
Tom Manzo,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Her work plainly belongs to this lineage of witchy writers, women whose deliciously corrupted scenes of home and hearth produce fear and wild laughter at once.—
Kristen Roupenian,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
This new strategy recognized that neighborhood fear is not just driven by crimes; it is also driven by neighborhood disorder.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Among agonized grunts and huffs, Probst narrated the fumbles.—
Sarah Grant,
New Yorker,
2 Feb. 2026
-
David walks out of the kitchen and Moira huffs and takes his spot over the pot.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Predator ranks growing California is struggling to manage the behavior of other predators whose ranks are growing thanks to the state’s conservation programs and endangered species protections.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
His campaign goals included reinstating and expanding bus services, attracting additional low-income housing options through federal and state grants, and increasing resource distribution by the city to homeless residents and those struggling with addiction.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But Murray worries about upholding his best friend’s wishes.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Horner also talked about being concerned about losing his job, wanting to see his child and worrying about what was going to happen to him, Espinoza said.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
High temperature will stay under 80 degrees Wednesday afternoon, and the overnight low will drip into the upper-60s.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Some of the women were bleeding from their reproductive organs, while others had blood dripping from slashes on their breasts, their bodies having been lacerated with a sharp instrument.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While on the stand, Texas Ranger Job Espinoza, the lead investigator who was with Horner when Athena's body was located and interrogated him after his arrest, testified that Horner had told him Athena’s underwear was still on her body, according to FOX 4.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Geiser said the organization was made aware of reports that federal authorities interrogated Wang before his death.—
Elaine Rojas-Castillo,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sweat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweat. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
