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
Roach works inside the pocket with an excellent chin and counters accurately. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Avila worked a scoreless sixth, retiring Casey Schmitt, Rafael Devers and Willy Adames. Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
Noun
For Rowland, its existence represented recognition for professionals whose work often takes place behind performers, students and productions rather than at the center of public attention. Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026 Duke’s diverse body of work also includes Peter Berg’s Spenser Confidential, David Leitch’s The Fall Guy and Edson Oda’s drama Nine Days. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • Construction on the new bridge began in 2018 but took years, partly because of a global slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 July 2026
  • Inadequate data management is projected to cause 60% of AI project failures, with autonomous agents posing even greater risks as errors can spread rapidly.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Verb
  • No one bill was ever going to solve every affordability challenge facing this country.
    Kent Strang, Boston Herald, 26 July 2026
  • The problem of non-competitive midseason spectacles lives on for another group to try to solve.
    Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Verb
  • Harvick, who on May 19th was named to the latest class in the NASCAR Hall Of Fame and will be inducted next January, believes his first Brickyard 400 win on August 3, 2003, served as the launching pad to his Hall of Fame career.
    Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026
  • Learning from others Other countries that have experienced higher magnitude earthquakes with less damage, can serve as models to follow, Martinez Cruzado said.
    Syra Ortiz-Blanes, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
Verb
  • The actors also showcased their talent by performing scenes from the show, in tandem with clips projected onto the big panel screens for audiences.
    Diya Chacko, Oc Register, 24 July 2026
  • After performing very well in 2020-21, Leeds’ first season back in the Premier League after an absence of 16 years, Illan Meslier’s signature on a five-year contract was viewed as a long-term solution.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Verb
  • To prevent speculation that drives up land price without actual construction, the zoning benefits would be granted only on submission of building-permit applications.
    Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
  • Real estate has always been driven by connections between buyers and sellers.
    Heartland MLS®, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
Verb
  • With a boat launch, any size motors are invited, but must be operated at a slow no-wake speed, according to the park website.
    Zuri Primos July 26, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026
  • Last year there were 31,142 total students enrolled in the 59 schools operated by the Archdiocese of Miami, which includes Miami-Dade, Monroe and Broward counties.
    Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
Verb
  • Bills struggle to survive the legislative process Even when lawmakers agree on a proposal, getting it across the finish line presents another challenge.
    Nora O'Neill July 28, Charlotte Observer, 28 July 2026
  • Finding balance has been something France has struggled with since its success at the 2018 World Cup and Zidane will be tasked with combining France’s offensive arsenal with defensive rigidity behind them.
    Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
Verb
  • There’s often debate about whether AI is used by employers to increase productivity among its workforce or cut wage costs, according to Brian Justie, a senior research analyst with the UCLA Labor Center.
    Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026
  • Investigators said Summers was using his phone extensively before the crash, driving 73-75 mph, and tested positive for cocaine and opiates.
    Chadd Cripe. Produced with AI assistance, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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