1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
went for a retreat at the monastery for a temporary respite from the moil of the modern world
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2
as in labor
very hard or unpleasant work
fed up with the moil and moneygrubbing of Wall Street, he decided to open a bed-and-breakfast in Vermont
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to labor
to devote serious and sustained effort
miners moiling all day in the sunless recesses of the earth
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of moil
Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2020
During the Cold War, hot tensions became hopeless moils, conducted for political benefit as much as (and, over time, more than) moral right.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2020
Noun
The delight of online life gave way to its moil, and the pleasure of online services has been eroded by their many downsides, from compulsion to autocracy.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2020
During the Cold War, hot tensions became hopeless moils, conducted for political benefit as much as (and, over time, more than) moral right.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moil
Noun
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Chateau Elan’s allure may come from its stunning grounds and impressive wine roster, but there’s a creative commotion happening in the kitchens.—
Rai Mincey,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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An employee at a Mercedes-Benz overflow lot, who did not want to be named, heard the rapid gunfire and raced to the commotion to see what was going on.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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What if these materials quietly compromise their health, pollute the planet, and support unethical labor practices?—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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These striking and unsettling images played a key role in galvanizing Americans to push for comprehensive child labor laws.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2025
Verb
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By the time Bush left office, major banks and investment banks were struggling to stay alive, and that was just the ones that didn’t die in 2008.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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Too often over the last few years, the Red Sox have struggled to dispatch bad teams.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Hartford Courant,
11 May 2025
Verb
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Cook, swirling butter and stirring often, until butter is golden brown and has a nutty fragrance, 2 to 3 minutes more.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
2 May 2025
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Clues that pointed astronomers to these locations included swirling gas influenced by an early planet’s gravity, as well as rings and gaps of dust inside dust disks.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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On a random note: Long before those assignments, Chuck was pepper-sprayed covering the disturbances in Miami the morning Elián Gonzalez was whisked away by federal authorities.—
Charles Rabin,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2025
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There isn’t much built in to withstand those kinds of disturbances or fluctuations.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
9 May 2025
Noun
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However, thanks to aggressive conservation efforts, including predator control programs, habitat restoration, and breeding initiatives, several kiwi species have seen rebounds.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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The Capitals did a better job of countering in Game 2 and tied the series behind a strong two-way effort from Tom Wilson.—
Aaron Beard,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2025
Verb
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Cupich described the pope as an organized and meticulous worker who is humble and strives to take in a variety of different perspectives.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2025
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Martinez also serves as a mentor for both the Reel Champs’ Executive Diversity Mentorship Program, as well as the Group Effort Initiative Mentorship Program, which strives to create a pipeline for members of underrepresented communities to establish long-term careers within entertainment.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
8 May 2025
Verb
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Weather led to a scrub of the Aug. 3 attempt, but SpaceX was able to launch despite Tropical Storm Debby churning off Florida’s southwest coast.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 May 2025
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Even when the surface churns with waves, the anchor holds below, rooted in unseen ground.—
Nancy Zamierowski,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Moil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moil. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
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