plugging 1 of 2

noun

as in filling

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plugging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of plug
1
as in packing
to close up so that no empty spaces remain plugged the hole in the wall with putty

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in laboring
to devote serious and sustained effort plugged away at solving the math problem

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in promoting
to provide publicity for the actress is giving lots of interviews to plug her latest movie

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4
as in shooting
to strike with a missile from a gun the drug lord plugged the stool pigeon as a lesson for any others who were tempted to talk

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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 plugging
Noun
In addition, most of the money dedicated to well plugging is expended through contractors. — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026 Changes in estrogen and androgen levels can increase keratin production, promoting follicular plugging, while also affecting oil and sweat gland activity. — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 11 May 2026 The framework also showed high precision in tasks like charger plugging, where millimeter-level accuracy is critical. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026 To address the issue, the Center for Biological Diversity is pushing for faster plugging of idle wells, prioritizing the effort near sensitive locations and making oil and gas companies pay for it. — Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026 Continue reading … RATTLED HOST — CNN's Jake Tapper 'very unhappy' after network tightens book plugging. — FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026 Oil companies are required to set aside funds, called bonds, that the state can call on to pay for well plugging and environmental cleanup. — Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 22 Jan. 2026 These items often need daily recharging, necessitating regular plugging and unplugging. — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Dec. 2025 Such plugging used to come in the form of critical scores. — Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 May 2016
Verb
Gray has spent most of his short senior career plugging gaps and at some stage needs to settle in one position. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 Whatever the Padres do, Monday’s trade deadline will be about plugging holes. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026 In May, Beijing rolled out new rules specifically for new biomedical technologies, plugging what observers said was a gap in how the development of advanced therapies, including personalized treatments, are controlled. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 July 2026 The authorities are focused on plugging holes to prevent money fleeing the country and, potentially, crashing the renminbi. — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 21 July 2026 Most of these shoes achieve a full charge within a couple of hours of plugging them into a power outlet. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 July 2026 Corky Quirk, who founded the local rescue organization NorCal Bats, previously said the colony was well over 20 years old when Sacramento started plugging up bat entrances in the fall of 2025. — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026 Today, implementing standards and plugging these gaps is the province of compliance. — Lisa Umberger, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 It’s been so interesting to hear about plugging and abandonment issues from a different perspective. — Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plugging
  1. filling
  2. packing
  3. laboring
  4. promoting
  5. shooting
  6. closing
  7. struggling
  8. selling
Noun
  • Order a classic deli sandwich or oven grinder served with a towering pile of fries, or opt for something a little more filling like Grandma’s Homemade Meatloaf topped with beef gravy.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The cabin comes in white-brown, black-brown, or all-black color schemes and features five seats with 10-layer filling, ventilation (bottom-blow, back-suction), and heating.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of filling
Verb
  • The World Cup acted as South Downtown’s debut, packing the area with traveling fans and locals taking their first look at downtown Atlanta’s next era.
    — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 30 July 2026
  • Hollywood hasn’t begun packing for the fall festivals in Venice, Telluride and Toronto, but the Sundance Film Festival has dropped in with a reminder that January is around the corner.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 29 July 2026
Definition of packing
Verb
  • Still visibly laboring through the pain, Dias pulled on a pair of chaps that once belonged to Lane Frost, one of the most iconic figures in bull riding history.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
  • Complicated births that require, for example, extended time laboring will now be differentiated and might cost more, while uncomplicated births will cost less.
    — Camille A. Clare, STAT, 23 July 2026
Definition of laboring
Verb
  • It is commonly used in sports medicine, regenerative medicine and wellness settings with the goal of promoting the healing of tendons, ligaments, muscles and other soft tissues.
    — Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
  • As in 1926, some concrete plans will be unveiled during the summit, including the creation of an international NGO dedicated to protecting and promoting independent cinema worldwide, Variety has learned.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 31 July 2026
Definition of promoting
Verb
  • The conviction stemmed from a July 7, 2008, shooting in Kansas City, Kansas, that killed 21-year-old Rahi Larks, according to a document from the Kansas Supreme Court and previous reporting from The Star.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Fort Worth police have arrested two men in connection to the June 16 shooting death of a 26-year-old man, according to online police records.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
Definition of shooting
Noun
  • One of Reiter’s closing observations was that, in his view, nuclear power doesn’t belong on drones and airplanes.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The knockout finally arrived in the fourth, with France’s two-run single closing the book on the 25-year-old rookie.
    — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of closing
Verb
  • Soon, the Toupses began feeding employees’ friends and families who were also struggling, and as word spread, more folks in need started reaching out.
    — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026
  • But one is struggling right now with depression, and the other is living her best life but not in touch much.
    — Emily Morman, Washington Post, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of struggling
Verb
  • Kuester was arrested and charged with selling drugs on June 19, the day after SBI agents talked to Elliott.
    — Julia Coin Updated July 31, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026
  • The value compounds because the tour is selling tickets, the album is driving streams, and the tequila and the sneaker campaign are both reinforcing the same orange-hued, community-first aesthetic in the culture at the same time.
    — Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of selling

Browse Nearby Words

pluggers
plugging
plugging (away)
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Cite this Entry

“Plugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plugging. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on plugging

Nglish: Translation of plugging for Spanish Speakers

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