plodding

Everyday

1. Walking slowly and heavily. tree →
2. Working slowly and steadily but without much excitement or skill. tree →
3. (of a story or film) Slow and dull. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, plodding footsteps show tiredness or a heavy creature. In reviews, a plodding film or book is slow and boring. Describing a person as plodding can be unkind, but a plodding worker can also be steady and reliable, like the tortoise.

Examples

• We heard plodding footsteps on the stairs. tree →
• The plodding donkey carried the bags. tree →
• The film had a plodding story. tree →
• Plodding along, the tortoise won the race. tree →
• His plodding style got the job done. tree →
• The plodding pace made the walk last forever. tree →
• Meanwhile the Tortoise kept plodding on, and in time reached the goal. tree →

Note

Double d. Can be a description or the verb form: "He is plodding home." Similar: trudging, lumbering.