trudge
This word evokes a sense of physical burden and mental weariness. It describes a specific quality of movement where the feet feel heavy and the pace is sluggish, often due to external resistance like mud, snow, or sand, or internal exhaustion. It carries a more negative, strained connotation than simply walking slowly.
As a noun, the term emphasizes the duration and the grueling nature of the journey. It is typically used to describe a specific trek that felt like a chore or an ordeal rather than a leisure activity.
Meanings
Phrasal Verbs
trudge through
to walk with difficulty through a substance or a tedious process
We had to trudge through the thick mud for miles.
trudge along
to continue walking slowly and wearily
The exhausted hikers continued to trudge along the dusty trail.
trudge back
to return to a place by walking slowly and with effort
After the failed expedition, they began the long trudge back to camp.