PLOD Synonyms: 159 Similar and Opposite Words

plod

verb

ˈpläd

Definition of plod

as in to struggle

to devote serious and sustained effort plodded night and day to get the assignment done

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to stumble

to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually oxen plodding through deep mud

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to drag

to move slowly plodded reluctantly off to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to shuffle

to move heavily or clumsily wayfarers plodding across the sandy wastes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 plod Loaded trucks plodded through the crowd with people in their cargo beds throwing tomatoes at the revelers — who, in turn, hurled them at one another. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026 Santa, who was heavy and plodding with bad knees, couldn’t keep up as Gayle tailed this man through an alleyway. — Wilbert L. Cooper, Longreads, 25 Aug. 2026 Events plod forward, one after the other, and although Michael Shaeffer is a thoroughly compelling presence as the cruel and chronically unstable monarch Aerys, other performances seem nuance-free. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026 That optionality may be more enticing for New York than just signing a plodding third center. — Tom Rende, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plod

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plod

Verb

But even when Antetokounmpo was on the court in the second half, the Heat struggled.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
The high prices are adding to pain for cattle ranchers in western states, who were already struggling with persistent drought.

— Anna King, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of struggle

Verb

There was upset after upset, and a few teams were on the verge of stumbling as well.

— David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Next week will bring major risks for a stock market that's trying to find its footing as the AI trade continues to stumble, with several megacap earnings, a Federal Reserve meeting and a key inflation report in store.

— Sarah Min, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of stumble

Verb

Season 2 picks up from where things left off, with Michael and Diana having barely arrived in Spain when they are dragged back into the fold to answer questions around Ricardo’s death.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026
Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s spokesman denied Britain was being dragged in to the conflict.

— Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of drag

Verb

Filmed largely on the doctors’ phones, the film offers an intimate account of the people striving to preserve life amid a devastating humanitarian crisis.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026
Are these trends in direct conversation with the rise in weight loss medications, as luxury customers strive to show off their new bodies?

— Rachael Akhidenor, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of strive

Verb

Cross over North Figueroa Street, and trudge up the hill before you, which has an average grade of about 15%.

— Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
The ground level would sink, the water would seep up, and the horses’ hooves would trudge through mud.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of trudge

Verb

On thinner material, that gives you a fighting chance at keeping heat and warpage under control without crawling along at a miserable pace.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026
The bystander told the woman to get down on the floor before crawling into the home beneath the heaviest heat and dragging her to safety, according to the fire department.

— Richard Ramos, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of crawl

Verb

At one point Evans stomps in to a Fielder secondary interview to try to stop it.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
McColley pushed Parente out onto the street and stomped his boot in the victim’s face five times, crushing Parente’s head into the pavement before fleecing his pockets and fleeing, according to the criminal complaint.

— Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of stomp

Browse Nearby Words

plinths

plod

plodded

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Style

“Plod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plod. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of plod

verb

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