“drag”

To pull or drag something heavy with sustained effort.

“She hauled the waterlogged trunk across the muddy bank, her boots sinking with every step.”

Best for: Works well in physical, gritty, or working-class narratives; punchy and immediate.

To carry or drag something cumbersome with laborious effort.

“He lugged the generator up three flights of stairs without a single complaint.”

Best for: Informal and vivid; great for conveying physical burden or reluctant effort.

To move or cause something to move slowly and heavily, rolling or dragging along.

“The old cart trundled down the cobblestone lane long after midnight.”

Best for: Evokes slow, weary, or mechanical movement; suits atmospheric or literary prose.

To pull something behind one with a line, chain, or sustained force.

“The fishing boat towed the wreckage silently into the harbor at dawn.”

Best for: Clean and precise; effective in nautical, mechanical, or minimalist writing.

To walk or move wearily, dragging oneself through tedious or difficult conditions.

“She traipsed through four departments before anyone acknowledged her complaint.”

Best for: Captures reluctant, exhausted movement; ideal for dry humor or frustration.

To carry or drag something tediously over an inconvenient distance.

“He schlepped six bags of groceries up the hill in the August heat.”

Best for: Yiddish-derived; conversational and colorful, perfect for comic or urban voices.