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
Toni Sutton, People.com, 19 June 2025
After struggling in his return to the mound, Ohtani mopped off the sweat, donned his batting equipment and led off as usual for the Dodgers in the bottom of the first.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 17 June 2025
Clare Marie Schneider, NPR, 19 June 2025
Clubs from South America, Africa, Asia and North America gave their opposite numbers plenty to sweat beyond the mid-day kickoff times under a mid-summer sun.
—Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sweat
Noun
Made from bamboo viscose, this breathable pad wicks away sweat and moisture while staying naturally cool, adjusting to your body temperature to keep you feeling right all night long.
—Toni Sutton, People.com, 19 June 2025
After struggling in his return to the mound, Ohtani mopped off the sweat, donned his batting equipment and led off as usual for the Dodgers in the bottom of the first.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 17 June 2025
Verb
Generally, symptoms include sweating more than usual, weakness, dizziness, fainting, pale skin, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.
—Clare Marie Schneider, NPR, 19 June 2025
Clubs from South America, Africa, Asia and North America gave their opposite numbers plenty to sweat beyond the mid-day kickoff times under a mid-summer sun.
—Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sweat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweat
Noun
-
Separate efforts by the United Nations to distribute limited food have been plagued by armed gangs looting trucks and by crowds of desperate people offloading supplies from convoys.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2025
-
Botswana is also investing in mitigation efforts by phasing out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and promoting various energy efficiency measures.—
Kyle Roderick,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
But its depiction of the site of the hotel as a liminal space of corruption and menace suggests that all tourist fantasies are based on the exploitation of others’ histories, lands, labors, and bodies.—
Erik Morse,
Vogue,
26 June 2025
-
Despite a difficult development market and ongoing construction labor shortage, Boise developers are forging ahead to remake the city.—
Nick Rosenberger,
Idaho Statesman,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
The fear, in fact, is that our continual need to standardize will modernize ourselves out of existence.—
Sara Novak,
Discover Magazine,
28 June 2025
-
Levine also challenged Ono’s inaction as a pro-Hamas encampment took hold in the heart of Michigan’s campus, causing terror and fear among Jewish students.—
Avi D. Gordon,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
Getty Images To date, the post has amassed more than 900 comments from TikTok viewers, many of them poking fun at the golden retriever mother's annoyed expression and shallow huffs.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
-
The chute opens, and rambunctious No. 2 bursts out with an impatient huff.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Though several Democrats are starting to make moves toward 2028, liberals have struggled with the lack of a main character to match Trump's political moxie the way then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi did in his first term.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
28 June 2025
-
On offense, the Red Sox have predictably struggled without Devers’ bat in the lineup.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
Verb
-
Concerns about student overuse and misuse are still prevalent: About half of teachers worry that student use of AI will decrease teens’ ability to think critically and independently or to have persistence when problem solving, according to the study.—
Jocelyn Gecker,
Fortune,
25 June 2025
-
In Boca Raton, the government campus project has drawn concern, with some residents worrying about the relocation of the current sports facilities there, encroaching on the nearby neighborhoods and actually adding traffic to the city despite one of the goals being to reduce it.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
But a special energy crackles in the grandstands when a hitter who drips with danger steps to the plate.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
-
The liquid caught on his glasses and dripped into his eyes.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
To really interrogate love today, the band went back in time to examine these concepts over the generations.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
22 June 2025
-
Their new works, spanning sculpture, installation, and mixed media, use architectural motifs as both metaphor and material, interrogating how personal and political histories are built—and unbuilt.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sweat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweat. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share