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Definitions

hammer away at

VERB
concentrate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
apply establish fixate focus intensify put settle
STRONG
attend center contemplate examine hammer meditate muse need peruse ponder rivet ruminate scrutinize set study sweat weigh
WEAK
be engrossed in bring to bear brood over consider closely crack one's brains direct attention fix attention focus attention get on the beam give attention head trip knuckle down occupy thoughts pour it on put mind to rack one's brains think hard
Antonyms
STRONGEST
confuse unsettle
STRONG
disregard forget ignore neglect
WEAK
disperse scatter
VERB
debate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
answer bicker consider contest deliberate oppose question wrangle
STRONG
agitate altercate bandy canvass cogitate confab confute contend controvert demonstrate differ disprove dispute hassle moot pettifog prove reason rebut refute rehash
WEAK
bump heads chew the fat cross swords discept hash over have at it kick around knock around lock horns pick a bone put up argument set to talk back talk game thrash out toss around
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agree
STRONG
endorse give in go along harmonize make peace prove
VERB
deliberate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
consider consult contemplate mull over ponder reflect weigh
STRONG
argue cerebrate cogitate debate excogitate judge meditate muse reason revolve roll ruminate speculate study
WEAK
bat it around chew over kick around knock around pour it on put on thinking cap rack brains run up a flagpole stew over sweat over talk over turn over
Antonyms
STRONGEST
discard disregard forget ignore neglect
STRONG
abstain agree go along
VERB
mull
Synonyms
STRONGEST
contemplate deliberate examine ponder weigh
STRONG
chaw consider delay figure linger meditate moon procrastinate reflect review revolve ruminate study woolgather
WEAK
brood over muse on pore over rack one's brains stew over sweat over think over turn over
Antonyms
STRONGEST
forget ignore neglect
STRONG
advance dismiss disregard hurry leave rush

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The imposing 6-foot-2 back is there to hammer away at opposing defenses.

From Washington Times • Oct. 24, 2022

Hibs began to hammer away at the Rangers defence and Jon McLaughlin superbly foiled a near-post header from Lewis Miller before Bushiri's shot bounced agonisingly wide off a team-mate.

From BBC • Aug. 20, 2022

Defense attorneys, however, will hammer away at the credibility of undercover FBI agents and informants who fooled the group into thinking they were allies.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 9, 2022

I used to hammer away at wanting to see marriage equality.

From Washington Post • Sep. 8, 2021

She made him light his pipe again and soon the man felt his tired nerves relax while the weary brain ceased to hammer away at the problems it could not solve.

From The Calling of Dan Matthews by Wright, Harold Bell