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plug away

VERB
drudge
Synonyms
STRONG
grind away hammer away/hammer into labor muck perform plod pound away slog sweat toil travail
WEAK
back to the salt mines dig in keep nose to grindstone
Antonyms
STRONG
idle laze
WEAK
avoid be lazy dodge hesitate
VERB
hammer away/hammer into
Synonyms
WEAK
continue drive home drub into drudge drum into endeavor grind grind into impress upon instruct keep on peg away persevere persist pound away repeat stick to try hard try repeatedly work
VERB
keep one's nose to the grindstone
Synonyms
WEAK
hammer away keep one's shoulder to the wheel peg away put one's nose to the grindstone struggle on wade through work hard
VERB
labor
Synonyms
STRONGEST
strive sweat tend toil
STRONG
cultivate drive drudge endeavor grind away plod strain struggle travail
WEAK
exert oneself pour it on work oneself to the bone
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ignore neglect
STRONG
be lazy idle laze rest
WEAK
relax
VERB
moil
Synonyms
STRONG
back cultivate drive drudge endeavor fag grind plod slave strain strive struggle sweat tend toil travail tug work
WEAK
bear down exert oneself pour it on work oneself to the bone
Antonyms
STRONG
be lazy destroy discourage dissuade idle ignore laze neglect rest
VERB
persevere
Synonyms
STRONGEST
endure hold on keep going persist press on proceed pursue stand firm
STRONG
continue maintain remain
WEAK
be determined be resolved be stubborn carry on go for broke go for it go on hang in hang tough hold fast keep driving keep on leave no stone unturned see it through stay the course stick with it
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cease discontinue give up stop
WEAK
be lazy idle leave quit
VERB
plod
Synonyms
STRONG
drudge grind labor persevere scratch slave sweat toil
WEAK
bear down buckle down knuckle down plough through
Antonyms
STRONG
be lazy idle laze
WEAK
breeze tiptoe walk lightly
VERB
struggle
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cope seek strive tackle toil try
STRONG
assay attempt dig endeavor grind hassle hustle offer plug scratch slave strain sweat undertake
WEAK
bend over backwards break one's back break one's neck exert oneself give it one's best shot give the old college try go all out have one's nose to grindstone make every effort take a crack take a stab take on try one's hardest work like a dog
Antonyms
STRONGEST
forget idle neglect
STRONG
be lazy ignore laze procrastinate withhold
WEAK
rest surrender yield
VERB
work
Synonyms
STRONGEST
labor manage pursue strive toil try
STRONG
dig drive drudge freelance hustle manufacture moil moonlight ply slog specialize strain sweat
WEAK
apply oneself be gainfully employed buckle down carry on do a job do business earn a living have a job hold a job knuckle down nine-to-five it peg away punch a clock take on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
stop
STRONG
be lazy idle laze
WEAK
destroy relax rest

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.

See Examples For:

He decamped to Southern California with his brother Ira to plug away in Hollywood, seeing better times in Los Angeles instead of the East Coast.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2024

Former world number one Murray, with metal inserted into his hip joint, continues to plug away as he aims for another deep run at a major.

From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2024

Or would they plug away at the tree they knew best?

From Science Daily ● Nov. 27, 2023

Although the Badgers managed to plug away downfield and register respectable yardage totals, they had trouble finishing drives and were often thwarted when they neared the end zone.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 11, 2022

All we can do," said Tom, "is to plug away every day.

From Further Adventures of Quincy Adams Sawyer and Mason Corner Folks by Charles Felton Pidgin

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