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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 elbow grease
With some time, money, and elbow grease, a fixer-upper can be a pocket-friendly way to make your dream house yourself.
—
Aksha Mittapalli, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Jan. 2025
Some elbow grease and astute prudence can get things back in proper gear.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
Gather your equipment Common household cleaners, like a bleach solution, and some elbow grease can absolutely help you for surface mold.
—Bridget Reed Morawski, Architectural Digest, 14 Jan. 2025
Overall, though, the OXO Good Grips Microfiber Spray Mop was easy to set up, lightweight to use, easy to clean, and most importantly, got stains out of floors with relatively no elbow grease.
—Lauren Finney Harden, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for elbow grease 
Aksha Mittapalli, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Jan. 2025
Some elbow grease and astute prudence can get things back in proper gear.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
Gather your equipment Common household cleaners, like a bleach solution, and some elbow grease can absolutely help you for surface mold.
—Bridget Reed Morawski, Architectural Digest, 14 Jan. 2025
Overall, though, the OXO Good Grips Microfiber Spray Mop was easy to set up, lightweight to use, easy to clean, and most importantly, got stains out of floors with relatively no elbow grease.
—Lauren Finney Harden, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for elbow grease
Thesaurus Entries Near elbow grease
Cite this Entry
“Elbow grease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elbow%20grease. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share