work 1 of 2

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2
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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

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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

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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
This will only work on accounts using an email included in the initial 2021 data breach. James Peckham, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2025 These highlights were written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story. Ashley Hiruko, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
All of her work and coverage decisions are overseen solely by Journal Sentinel editors. Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025 The serial killer has already inspired several works, including 1960's Psycho, 1974's The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and 1991's The Silence of the Lambs. Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • Forest County Potawatomi Chairman Brooks Boyd said the shutdown is not causing any meaningful impacts to tribal services at the moment.
    Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The cause was classified as norovirus, a contagious virus that causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and is commonly known as the stomach flu.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Her case has not been solved, though a tape unearthed in 2004 provided some possible assailants, and nothing involving Gein, who was cleared of any connection later in 1957.
    JR Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Nashville was chosen as one of the stops for fans to solve an international tour.
    Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Kay Barnes, a former Kansas City mayor, is serving in the role temporarily, but the county legislature will soon vote on an interim executive to serve until November 2026.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Sullivan and Quinn became fast friends, and Quinn went on to serve as a groomsman when Sullivan married his wife, Kate.
    Peter Baugh, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Brewers ranked a more respectable 12th in slugging percentage, and some of their most dynamic hitters were either not performing or not yet on the team early in the season.
    Andy McCullough, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Swift performed an acoustic version of her song, invoking tears.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Sylvia said fire crews had to access the scene by driving in the wrong direction from 59th Street.
    Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Bouchard is one of the NHL’s most polarizing defensemen, but there’s no denying his elite play-driving numbers on the top pair — even in non-Connor McDavid and non-Leon Draisaitl minutes.
    Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The program, which offers $1,500 mid-pregnancy cash assistance and then $500 a month up to a year of the baby's life, already operates in 11 communities around Michigan.
    Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Why was TikTok’s operating license suspended?
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The arrival of Clark and other high-profile young players have contributed to a boom in popularity for the long-struggling league.
    Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The Broncos are 2-2 and coming off a dominating 28-3 victory over the struggling Cincinnati Bengals.
    Hunter Simpson, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Little kids will enjoy its pre-programmed songs and dances, while older kids can use a smart app to program new movement patterns and routines.
    Anja Webb, Parents, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Participants will learn the differences between dabbling and diving ducks, their unique characteristics and how to use eBird to find local waterfowl viewing hot spots.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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