1
as in to struggle
to devote serious and sustained effort
plodded night and day to get the assignment done
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stumble
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
oxen plodding through deep mud
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in to shuffle
to move heavily or clumsily
wayfarers plodding across the sandy wastes
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plod
Dark Souls’ plodding sword-and-board combat disappeared in favor of a lightning fast rhythm of slashes, bullets, and dodges.
—
Luke Winkie, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2025
This track is a standout on what is generally another great album from him, with features from the legend Olamide and rising voice Qing Madi, among others, and this one layers a classic Afrobeats drum pattern with a plodding groove, letting his voice lead the charge.
—Heran Mamo, Billboard, 31 Mar. 2025
This might be what the song is supposed to be, but it’s crushed under the weight of the drawling vocals, plodding production, and an unnecessary final key change.
—Kristen S. Hé, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
At the start of this stylish but plodding film, which premiered at SXSW ahead of its March 27 release on Prime Video, the suburban mother loses a pearl earring.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plod
Luke Winkie, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2025
This track is a standout on what is generally another great album from him, with features from the legend Olamide and rising voice Qing Madi, among others, and this one layers a classic Afrobeats drum pattern with a plodding groove, letting his voice lead the charge.
—Heran Mamo, Billboard, 31 Mar. 2025
This might be what the song is supposed to be, but it’s crushed under the weight of the drawling vocals, plodding production, and an unnecessary final key change.
—Kristen S. Hé, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
At the start of this stylish but plodding film, which premiered at SXSW ahead of its March 27 release on Prime Video, the suburban mother loses a pearl earring.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plod
Verb
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Flummoxed in Congress, organizing back home The pushback to Trump has been slow in starting as congressional Democrats, outnumbered in both chambers, continue to struggle to devise the strongest message and most effective tactics to use against the Republican president.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
16 June 2025
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Just as a time traveler from the 1960s would struggle to navigate modern life without learning how to operate a phone, a talented professional in 2025 who hasn’t learned to work with AI tools is out of step with reality.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Verb
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Then in 2022, with escalating inflation and consumer pressure, the stock stumbled again with a 63% drop.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
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Scott made the turn at even-par but a bogey-bogey-double bogey stumble from holes Nos. 14-16 ended his tournament.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
Verb
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Over the Great Plains, the high-level flow of winds has been pushing the smoke south, and shifting upper-level winds from the west will drag the smoke over the eastern states, according to The Weather Channel.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
5 June 2025
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The phone call between Trump and Putin came as the war, which has dragged on for nearly 3.5 years, shows no signs of abating despite mounting pressure for a diplomatic breakthrough.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
4 June 2025
Verb
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The Discovery+ streaming service will be shuffled into the Global Networks company.—
Stephen Battaglio,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
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Instead, set aside time each week to sort through each piece of paper (rather than picking it up and shuffling it around multiple times per week!).—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 June 2025
Verb
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Jared, a division of Signet Jewelers, is striving to increase its relevancy to today’s customers in other ways as well.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
16 June 2025
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For the striving artists, a steady job is not a compromise but a strategic advantage, a powerful catalyst for sustained creativity and personal well-being.—
Kice Akkawi,
Rolling Stone,
16 June 2025
Verb
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For decades, organizations in healthcare, finance, logistics, and manufacturing have trudged through oceans of paperwork.—
Rhett Power,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
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As the afternoon wore on and the temperature climbed to 91 degrees, crowds trudged through the heat, some seeking refuge beneath the oversized Angels helmets at the stadium entrance, all for a chance to meet their favorite Banana Ballers.—
Anthony De Leon,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
Verb
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The curious little creatures interact with you (sometimes crawling on your body) while practicing your pose, adding an extra stress-reducing and unforgettable element to your usual yoga routine.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
13 June 2025
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He’s cut off from family and beset by crawling spiders at night, Brindley said.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
12 June 2025
Verb
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Accounts Samsung Confirms Upgrade Choice—Galaxy Users Must Now Decide In the spring, males would gather in leks and perform dramatic dances, puffing out orange air sacs on their necks and stomping their feet to show dominance and vitality.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
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Fifteen kids happily stomp their sneakers to the count.—
John Burnett,
NPR,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plod. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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