as in filling
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1
as in packing
to close up so that no empty spaces remain
plugged the hole in the wall with putty
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in laboring
to devote serious and sustained effort
plugged away at solving the math problem
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3
as in promoting
to provide publicity for
the actress is giving lots of interviews to plug her latest movie
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in shooting
to strike with a missile from a gun
the drug lord plugged the stool pigeon as a lesson for any others who were tempted to talk
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plugging
Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Changes in estrogen and androgen levels can increase keratin production, promoting follicular plugging, while also affecting oil and sweat gland activity.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 11 May 2026
The framework also showed high precision in tasks like charger plugging, where millimeter-level accuracy is critical.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
To address the issue, the Center for Biological Diversity is pushing for faster plugging of idle wells, prioritizing the effort near sensitive locations and making oil and gas companies pay for it.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
Continue reading … RATTLED HOST — CNN's Jake Tapper 'very unhappy' after network tightens book plugging.
—FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
Oil companies are required to set aside funds, called bonds, that the state can call on to pay for well plugging and environmental cleanup.
—Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 22 Jan. 2026
These items often need daily recharging, necessitating regular plugging and unplugging.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Dec. 2025
Such plugging used to come in the form of critical scores.
—Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 May 2016
Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 May 2026
On Friday, the Knicks had Shamet to thank for plugging the hole in the starting unit.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026
Very few players at the top level operate as that kind of hybrid as comfortably as Szoboszlai has this season, plugging gaps in the line-up wherever required.
—Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 8 May 2026
The bee should be eliminated first before plugging the hole.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 5 May 2026
The Hawks should have more chemistry now that most of them have a full NHL season under their belts, and plugging Stenberg into that would fit like a puzzle piece.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Even still, all of that combined is plugging the supply gap by only about 8 million barrels a day, according to Natasha Kaneva, head of global commodities strategy at JPMorgan.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
The Afghan Whigs never had a consecutive run since forming in Cincinnati in 1986, taking a 13-year hiatus after plugging into six albums, then regrouping again in 2011, and staying put ever since.
—Tina Eves, SPIN, 23 Apr. 2026
The deal is Ascentium’s most recent in more than a dozen acquisitions, plugging a gap in the company’s mainland China coverage while deepening its footprint in hot Southeast Asian growth markets.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
In addition, most of the money dedicated to well plugging is expended through contractors.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Changes in estrogen and androgen levels can increase keratin production, promoting follicular plugging, while also affecting oil and sweat gland activity.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 11 May 2026
The framework also showed high precision in tasks like charger plugging, where millimeter-level accuracy is critical.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
To address the issue, the Center for Biological Diversity is pushing for faster plugging of idle wells, prioritizing the effort near sensitive locations and making oil and gas companies pay for it.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
Continue reading … RATTLED HOST — CNN's Jake Tapper 'very unhappy' after network tightens book plugging.
—FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
Oil companies are required to set aside funds, called bonds, that the state can call on to pay for well plugging and environmental cleanup.
—Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 22 Jan. 2026
These items often need daily recharging, necessitating regular plugging and unplugging.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Dec. 2025
Such plugging used to come in the form of critical scores.
—Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 May 2016
Verb
Through a combination of outdoor placements, promotional teams on the streets and airline seatbacks, the distributor’s advertising unit is plugging the company’s multi-channel packages.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 May 2026
On Friday, the Knicks had Shamet to thank for plugging the hole in the starting unit.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026
Very few players at the top level operate as that kind of hybrid as comfortably as Szoboszlai has this season, plugging gaps in the line-up wherever required.
—Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 8 May 2026
The bee should be eliminated first before plugging the hole.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 5 May 2026
The Hawks should have more chemistry now that most of them have a full NHL season under their belts, and plugging Stenberg into that would fit like a puzzle piece.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Even still, all of that combined is plugging the supply gap by only about 8 million barrels a day, according to Natasha Kaneva, head of global commodities strategy at JPMorgan.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
The Afghan Whigs never had a consecutive run since forming in Cincinnati in 1986, taking a 13-year hiatus after plugging into six albums, then regrouping again in 2011, and staying put ever since.
—Tina Eves, SPIN, 23 Apr. 2026
The deal is Ascentium’s most recent in more than a dozen acquisitions, plugging a gap in the company’s mainland China coverage while deepening its footprint in hot Southeast Asian growth markets.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plugging
Noun
-
The menu at Eggroll Company puts a creative spin on classic egg rolls with oversized, fried-to-order creations packed with bold fillings.—
Evan Moore
May 13,
Charlotte Observer,
13 May 2026
-
The filling features a few savory stars — aged Gruyère cheese, Swiss chard, lean Canadian bacon, onion and garlic.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Section Two of the Voting Rights Act was written to prevent diminishing the voting power of racial minorities by packing them into one district or spreading them out across many districts.—
Sarah Clifton,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
-
Of course, packing two days of qualifying comes with some concessions.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Imagine a place of employment where everyone in the building is laboring to live out their childhood dream.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
10 May 2026
-
Just three had received fewer innings per game from their starters, increasing the burden on a bullpen laboring under the strain.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Screen Brasil reaffirms Embratur’s role in promoting the country internationally and expanding the international reach of Brazilian productions.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
18 May 2026
-
On Sunday, the league posted a social media graphic promoting its doubleheader on NBC/Peacock.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Police are investigating an east Fort Worth shooting that injured a man Sunday night.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 May 2026
-
But while he wasn’t fired for shooting a Black man who died, he is fired from the LAPD for beating up a white man who lived.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
In some cases, that may involve flexibility around closing timelines, occupancy dates, or smaller logistical considerations that can influence how an offer is perceived in a competitive environment.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
Borrowers will often be able to float it down before closing and, in the interim, won't need to worry about any other incremental increases.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Many libraries’ orders went unfulfilled, and all but the largest ones were left struggling to get popular titles to their patrons.—
Adeel Hassan,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
Across Oahu’s North Shore, an area famed for its big-wave surfing, the small farms that help supply the island’s food are struggling after back-to-back storms in March brought the state’s worst flooding in two decades.—
Jennifer Sinco Kelleher,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
In addition to his clairvoyant recruitment of head coach Eric Roy, who had not coached a club for more than 11 years before his appointment by Brest, Lorenzi enjoyed success at Stade Francis Le Ble by picking up players on the cheap and selling them on at significant profit.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.—
Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plugging. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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