1
as in job
a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work
one of the labors of Hercules in classical mythology was to clean out the stables of King Augeas
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in effort
the active use of energy in producing a result
a superhuman amount of labor must have gone into designing and building the pyramids of Egypt
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in toil
very hard or unpleasant work
a political dissident forced to do six months of hard labor in the salt mines as punishment
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4
as in childbirth
the act or process of giving birth to children
the mother's labor lasted for six hours
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5
as in production
something produced by physical or intellectual effort
a small, personal film that was clearly a labor of love for the director and actors
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as in to struggle
to devote serious and sustained effort
the young lawyer labored most of the weekend over the difficult legal brief
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of labor
Solcyré Burga, Time, 21 May 2025
Among the problems and setbacks at NASSCO, CRS said, were the accidental flooding of a dry dock in 2018, labor shortages, difficulty getting parts, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and failures with robotic steel cutting and welding equipment.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 2025
John McCann, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2025
Meanwhile, Auschwitz was expanding as the prisoners labored until breaking point to erect new walls, barracks, crematoriums and gas chambers.
—Paul Hockenos, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for labor
Noun
The idea has also drawn criticism from a number of economists and labor advocates.
—Solcyré Burga, Time, 21 May 2025
Among the problems and setbacks at NASSCO, CRS said, were the accidental flooding of a dry dock in 2018, labor shortages, difficulty getting parts, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and failures with robotic steel cutting and welding equipment.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 2025
Verb
Our Public Works crews labored over the years, proactively clearing storm drains, helping residents address vulnerabilities on their properties.
—John McCann, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2025
Meanwhile, Auschwitz was expanding as the prisoners labored until breaking point to erect new walls, barracks, crematoriums and gas chambers.
—Paul Hockenos, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for labor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for labor
Noun
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Here’s a look at the life lessons the Thunderbirds have learned from their work that can apply to any job or life stage.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
24 May 2025
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One incentive to keep trying is the success of Naïma (Samia Hilmi), who is preparing to move with her child into their own flat and is on track to secure a job as a railway ticket inspector.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2025
Noun
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The vast majority of Customer Success leaders (89%) are making scale and efficiency a primary goal of their efforts, according to a survey of research conducted by Gainsight.—
Stephen Diorio,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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While his admission may seem like a slight, cracking the list of the league’s top 10 defenders each season is a difficult task, particularly for perimeter players whose efforts aren’t as well represented by defensive metrics.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
23 May 2025
Noun
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His instincts were forged during the Cultural Revolution, in the 1960s and 1970s, when his family fell from grace and he was sent to toil in rural Shaanxi.—
Zongyuan Zoe Liu,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Apr. 2025
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But this season has been one of toil as well as triumph, of inconsistency and dramatic defeats such as Saturday’s 4-1 loss at Aston Villa, as well as long winning runs and historic results.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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For years, society has warned women against childbirth after 35.—
Essence,
Essence,
20 May 2025
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In the five years following childbirth, 26% of fathers had been promoted or had moved to a better job compared to only 13% of mothers.—
Eva Epker,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
Noun
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The feature is from production companies Sandbox Films, Protozoa Pictures, Planet Octopus Studios, and Spring Films.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
30 May 2025
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The renowned luxury hotel is situated just a few blocks from Lake Michigan and not too far from the Near West Side, where Harpo Studios, Winfrey’s multimedia production company, was located at the time.—
Joyce Chen,
Architectural Digest,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Throughout the movie, Andy struggles to meet the demands of her job while maintaining her relationship with her boyfriend and co-workers, Emily (Blunt) and Nigel (Tucci).—
Rebecca Aizin,
People.com,
23 May 2025
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Experts predict an increase in space tourism over the coming decades, potentially accelerating global warming in a world already struggling to combat its effects.—
Sheetal Khedkar Rao,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
Noun
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Once doctors reviewed the family’s travel history, treatment was quickly shifted to address concerns of histoplasmosis, which the CDC explains can cause cause flu-like symptoms including fever and chills, malaise, cough, headache, chest pain and body aches.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
23 May 2025
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Symptoms include persistent fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, headaches, brain fog, shortness of breath and difficulty sleeping, per the Virginia Department of Health.—
Tess DeMeyer,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
Noun
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Then, a year later, came the moves up the coaching ladder with the Heat that included G League work with the Skyforce.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
1 June 2025
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On top of these funding woes, Beckman said the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants, and shifting attitudes towards foreigners in the US, has also pushed her to look for work elsewhere.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
1 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Labor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/labor. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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