as in effort
the active use of energy in producing a result
with a little polish and a lot of elbow grease, I was able to make the old silver teapot shine again
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Recent Examples of elbow grease
This chore requires lots of scrubbing and elbow grease, and taking proper precautions to ensure your safety is key.
—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2025
Weber Griddle Scraper $22 $19 (14% off) Amazon $19
Weber
Other people have their own methods, but my preference for cleaning griddles tends to use more steam than elbow grease.
—Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 6 Aug. 2025
Spin scrubbers offer a serious boost in power, helping to lift stubborn stains, soap scum, hard water buildup, and kitchen messes that would otherwise require a lot of elbow grease.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 22 July 2025
To experience the preserve’s tranquility, visitors have to put in a little elbow grease.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for elbow grease
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2025
Weber Griddle Scraper $22 $19 (14% off) Amazon $19
Weber
Other people have their own methods, but my preference for cleaning griddles tends to use more steam than elbow grease.
—Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 6 Aug. 2025
Spin scrubbers offer a serious boost in power, helping to lift stubborn stains, soap scum, hard water buildup, and kitchen messes that would otherwise require a lot of elbow grease.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 22 July 2025
To experience the preserve’s tranquility, visitors have to put in a little elbow grease.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for elbow grease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elbow grease
Noun
-
Smaller efforts popped up in Greenland over the years, but nothing came to fruition.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Supporting the Army’s next phase The M-SHORAD Increment 4 effort is a major part of the Army’s broader modernization strategy.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But the real, urgent work ahead of them was to redeem the losses slavery had wrought.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Stefanski and Andrew Berry have a lot of work ahead of them to turn the Browns back into a playoff contender.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Colleagues who failed to take similar pains earned his everlasting disdain.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Like regular depression, SAD can cause negative feelings like hopelessness, worthlessness, irritability, and guilt; fatigue or reduced energy; a loss of interest in hobbies and activities; and even physical aches and pains (including headaches, cramps, and digestive problems).—
Maggie O'Neill,
SELF,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elbow grease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elbow%20grease. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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