Definition of worknext
1
2
3
as in to serve
to have a certain purpose the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in to perform
to produce a desired effect this headache remedy takes half an hour to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
6
as in to operate
to control the mechanical operation of show me how to work the machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

7
8

work

2 of 2

noun

1
as in composition
a literary, musical, or artistic production unfortunately, many of her works are now out of print

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
4
5
6
as in factory
works plural a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods a glass works where high quality glassware is made

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun work contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of work are drudgery, grind, labor, toil, and travail. While all these words mean "activity involving effort or exertion," work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force.

too tired to do any work

In what contexts can drudgery take the place of work?

The meanings of drudgery and work largely overlap; however, drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor.

an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery

When might grind be a better fit than work?

The synonyms grind and work are sometimes interchangeable, but grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body.

the grind of the assembly line

When could labor be used to replace work?

The words labor and work are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion.

farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor

When is toil a more appropriate choice than work?

The words toil and work can be used in similar contexts, but toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor.

his lot would be years of back-breaking toil

When is it sensible to use travail instead of work?

Although the words travail and work have much in common, travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering.

years of travail were lost when the house burned

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of work
Verb
Alongside its plans in Central Europe, Rolls-Royce SMR is working with Great British Energy – Nuclear on initial UK projects in North Wales, while Sweden’s Videberg Kraft has selected the consortium to supply three units on the Swedish coast. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026 Nader, who stars on Love Thy Nader with her sisters Brooks, Sarah Jane, and Mary Holland, worked with Haus Labs and makeup artist Sophia Toland to achieve her camera-ready glam. — Christina Oehler, InStyle, 27 Sep. 2026
Noun
Fred left a timeless legacy of dance on film, most famously in his collaborations with Ginger Rogers, while Adele’s work has been lost to history; indeed, no footage of her dancing survives. — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 26 Sep. 2026 The key difference between EAs and safetyists is that EAs generally provide funding for AI safety research and risk mitigation, whereas safetyists are researchers and advocates undertaking AI safety work and publicly calling for regulation. — Katie McQue, NPR, 26 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • No animals that might cause people to wonder, or to feel wonder, at their own place in the universe.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • But groups like the Hollywood labor guilds are celebrating the settlement news, as the staring contest between Ellison and the AGs caused paralysis in development and spending seemingly across the board at both companies.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Cage solved my next problem by insisting that the way to discover new things is to overcome our dependence on our likes and dislikes, those supposed pillars of criticism.
    — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • If something goes wrong, do our teams solve the customer’s problem together or simply hand it to someone else?
    — Brian Tuite, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Audience jeers council’s I-77 decision Mayfield, who serves council at-large, motioned to keep Charlotte from changing its previous vote against the toll lanes.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The improvements would put roughly 100 megawatts total of emission-free electricity on the power grid, which the utility already is expanding at an unprecedented rate to serve data centers.
    — Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The victim fell to the ground and stopped breathing and had to have CPR performed by bystanders, the report says.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
  • David Pakman examines just how far the need to perform for digital spectators has seeped into real life.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Its onboard offerings, wide array of itineraries and shore excursions—particularly those that are food and wine-driven—easily combine education, adventure, and good fun.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The real Johnny Drama stayed at your house for months, and one of the others drove your kids to school.
    — Lane Brown, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • However, the chapter continues to be recognized by its national organization, and thus was legally permitted to operate as a fraternity chapter unaffiliated with the university.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Although Ryan Sports Development won’t operate the new Ryan Field, Ryan and his family will continue to be deeply involved.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • But when her character — saucy British writer Constance Clavinger — turns out to be a handful (getting drunk at the airport bar, for starters), Homer struggles to get her to the school on time.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Three families who are very close friends struggle daily with the teenagers at home.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • And Oscar, stunned at his victory, promises to use his winnings to take the whole cast and crew to dinner.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Many organizations don’t have a complete inventory of where cryptography is being used today.
    — Evgeny Gervis, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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