plodders
Steady but unhurried
Plodders are people who work slowly and steadily without brilliance or flair.
The word carries a hint of dullness—plodders get things done through persistence rather than talent or inspiration.
In racing contexts, a plodder is a horse or runner with no real speed: The frontrunners pulled away while the plodders brought up the rear.
Strenuous, prolonged effort
- drudgeryHard, boring work
- grindCrush into particles
- slogLaborious persistent effort
- exertionVigorous physical effort
effort · struggle · hardship · trudge · slogging · backbreaking · grueling · demanding
Sustained resolve despite obstacles
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- steadfastFirmly loyal, unshakeable
- resoluteFixed in purpose
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
doggedness · endurance · fortitude · grit · unwavering · unrelenting · indefatigable · unflagging
Those who move slowly
- sluggishSlow and inactive
- unhurriedTaking one's time
- laggardsThose who trail behind
- stragglersThose who fall behind
foot-draggers · tortoise-like · leisurely · measured · deliberate · methodical · trudging · lumbering
Arithmetic mean or ordinary
- ordinaryStandard, unremarkable
- undistinguishedLacking notable qualities
- unexceptionalNot standing out
- unremarkableNot worthy of comment
uninspired · middling · pedestrian · run-of-the-mill · forgettable · nondescript · workaday · journeyman
toil
Strenuous, prolonged effort
exertion · effort · struggle · hardship · trudge · slogging · backbreaking · grueling · demanding · wearisome
perseverance
Sustained resolve despite obstacles
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- steadfastFirmly loyal, unshakeable
- resoluteFixed in purpose
tenacity · doggedness · endurance · fortitude · grit · unwavering · unrelenting · indefatigable · unflagging · assiduous
dawdlers
Those who move slowly
stragglers · foot-draggers · tortoise-like · leisurely · measured · deliberate · methodical · trudging · lumbering · shambling
average
Arithmetic mean or ordinary
- ordinaryStandard, unremarkable
- undistinguishedLacking notable qualities
- unexceptionalNot standing out
unremarkable · uninspired · middling · pedestrian · run-of-the-mill · forgettable · nondescript · workaday · journeyman · hack
plodderssprinters
Brief-race speed athletes
dashers · racers · speedsters · runners · fliers
ploddersdynamos
Extremely vigorous people
go-getters · fireballs · live wires · high-flyers · whirlwinds