plod

Plod is an English verb meaning to move slowly and heavily, or to proceed in a slow, laborious way. It can describe physical movement, such as walking with heavy steps, or the progress of a task or undertaking that proceeds at a slow, monotonous pace. The related adjective plodding conveys a sense of steadiness that is more about persistence than speed, often with a negative or neutral connotation depending on context.

The term is often used in informal writing to convey weariness or perseverance. Common collocations include plod along, plod through, and plodding pace. As a noun, plod is rare but can refer to a slow, heavy step or, less commonly, to a person whose demeanor or work is dull and methodical. Plod-like behavior is frequently contrasted with quicker, more energetic action, or with more efficient, decisive effort.

In British slang, the word has also been used as a jocular or pejorative noun for the police, as in the phrase the plod. This usage considers law enforcement as methodical and unglamorous, and it is informal and potentially disrespectful, so it is typically avoided in formal writing.

Examples of usage include describing someone who trudges through a long task, “She plodded through the data analysis despite fatigue,” and a painter who travels from canvas to canvas at a steady, unhurried rate, “He plodded along the wall, painting one section at a time.” Plod contrasts with faster or more dynamic verbs and is closely related to synonyms like trudge and slog.