Synonyms of elbow grease

elbow grease

noun

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

• effort
• work
• pains
• expenditure
• sweat
• trouble
• energy
• labor
• exertion
• while
• power
• toil
• try
• drudgery
• strain
• muscle
• attempt
• might
• dint
• essay
• pass
• endeavor
• trial
• force
• go
• travail
• grind
• stab
• slog
• shot
• whack
• puissance
• fling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• facility
• ease
• smoothness
• fluency
• inertia
• inaction
• inactivity
• laziness
• idleness
• dormancy
• indolence
• adroitness
• quiescence
• languor

Examples of elbow grease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If your home has original hardwood floors that are in good shape or can be salvaged with a little bit—or a lot—of elbow grease, Scheck recommends keeping them. —Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Oct. 2024

This can be done with specialized supply chain security tools or with open-source tools and elbow grease, like: • Know your inventory. —Yuriy Bulygin, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024

Easy to Use: There’s relatively little elbow grease required when using a pressure washer. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2024

Keep reading to learn how to install renter-friendly wall sconces without the elbow grease. —Claire Hoppe, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2024