drudgery

noun

drudg·​ery ˈdrəj-rē 

ˈdrə-jə-rē

plural drudgeries

: dull, irksome, and fatiguing work : uninspiring or menial labor

the drudgery of his job

Synonyms of drudgery

• labor
• effort
• toil
• slavery
• sweat
• drudge
• fatigue
• grind
• pains

Choose the Right Synonym for drudgery

work, labor, travail, toil, drudgery, grind 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

labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion.

farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor

travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering.

years of travail were lost when the house burned

toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor.

his lot would be years of back-breaking toil

drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor.

an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery

grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body.

the grind of the assembly line

Examples of drudgery in a Sentence

He hated the drudgery of his job.

in the “good old days” household servants led lives filled with much drudgery and little pleasure

Recent Examples on the Web

The film’s only nomination went to John Travolta for his performance as Tony Manero, a young Brooklyn man who escaped the drudgery of his job and his home life every night at a local disco. —Paul Grein, Billboard, 27 Feb. 2026

His goal is to automate the drudgery of laboratory research, making experiments faster, more accurate and easier to perform. —Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 17 Feb. 2026

Many participants express skepticism about the optimistic view that AI will only eliminate drudgery and create new opportunities. —Editorial Board, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2026

The goal is not to replace soldiers on the front lines, but to eliminate the burdens, risks, and drudgery of military upkeep. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see drudge entry 1

First Known Use

1550, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

drudgery

noun

drudg·​ery ˈdrəj-(ə-)rē 

plural drudgeries

: hard or dull work