Synonyms of work

work 1 of 2

verb

ˈwərk 

1

as in to cause

to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)

this new drug can really work wonders

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cause
• create
• bring
• do
• generate
• prompt
• produce
• spawn
• effect
• make
• yield
• induce
• invoke
• draw on
• bring about
• effectuate
• translate (into)
• result (in)
• found
• give rise to
• catalyze
• encourage
• breed
• promote
• occasion
• bring forth
• contribute (to)
• introduce
• beget
• bring on
• engender
• begin
• pioneer
• start
• develop
• decide
• determine
• establish
• initiate
• launch
• set up
• institute
• inaugurate
• forward
• further
• cultivate
• foster
• set
• innovate
• render
• advance
• conduce (to)
• enact
• turn out
• father
• nurture
• nourish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• limit
• restrict
• impede
• check
• control
• put down
• suppress
• subdue
• stifle
• crush
• repress
• dampen
• quash
• restrain
• smother
• curb
• arrest
• can
• quell
• inhibit
• retard
• kill
• still
• rein (in)
• crack down (on)
• destroy
• squelch
• squash
• clamp down (on)
• abolish
• liquidate
• extinguish
• demolish
• quench
• snuff (out)

2

as in to solve

to find an answer for through reasoning

finally figured out how to work the math problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

• solve
• unravel
• answer
• resolve
• work out
• figure out
• crack
• decide
• decipher
• break
• conclude
• puzzle (out)
• gather
• dope (out)
• guess
• reason
• judge
• deduce
• unriddle
• riddle (out)
• infer
• assume
• straighten (out)
• presume
• divine
• speculate
• clear (up)
• iron out
• conjecture
• untie
• decode
• unscramble
• untangle

3

as in to serve

to have a certain purpose

the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood

Synonyms & Similar Words

• serve
• act
• function
• perform
• operate
• run
• manage
• control
• handle
• guide
• regulate
• carry on
• direct
• supervise
• administer
• oversee

4

as in to perform

to produce a desired effect

this headache remedy takes half an hour to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

• perform
• operate
• take
• act
• react
• take effect
• respond
• result
• take hold
• affect
• behave
• influence
• sway
• pan out
• redound

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• backfire
• fizzle

5

as in to drive

to set or keep in motion

this pump is worked by hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drive
• move
• activate
• propel
• stimulate
• actuate
• motivate
• trigger
• raise
• set off
• impel
• provoke
• stir (up)
• trip
• incite
• inspire
• whip (up)
• fire (up)
• ferment
• excite
• rouse
• foment
• abet
• arouse
• galvanize
• instigate
• inflame

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• check
• control
• regulate
• contain
• restrain
• curb
• inhibit
• constrain
• rein (in)
• bridle

6

as in to operate

to control the mechanical operation of

show me how to work the machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operate
• use
• handle
• run
• drive
• manipulate
• control
• wield
• guide
• steer
• maneuver
• direct
• pilot
• ply
• command

7

as in to struggle

to devote serious and sustained effort

the organization has worked for years to raise people's awareness of human rights issues

Synonyms & Similar Words

• struggle
• labor
• strive
• endeavor
• try
• toil
• slave
• plow
• sweat
• hustle
• tug
• dig (away)
• plug
• bang away
• travail
• strain
• drudge
• apply (oneself)
• grub
• hump
• plod
• beaver (away)
• peg (away)
• slog
• sweat blood
• exercise
• essay
• buckle (down)
• attack
• moil
• exert
• drive
• fag
• pitch in
• scratch
• eke out
• dig in
• grind (out)
• overwork
• hammer (away)
• knuckle down
• wade
• put out
• trudge
• overexert
• scrabble

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• break
• ease (up)
• let up
• slacken
• rest
• lounge
• hang (around or out)
• bum
• idle
• shirk
• relax
• chill
• goof (off)
• play
• slack (off)
• unwind
• hack (around)
• loaf
• laze
• repose
• hang
• bask
• veg out
• dabble
• loll
• fool around
• dillydally
• footle
• goldbrick
• dally
• hang about
• trifle
• goof (around)
• doodle
• mess around
• monkey (around)
• putter (around)
• potter (around)
• fribble

8

as in to use

to take unfair advantage of

a young boy who worked his aunt for all she was worth in toys and candy when she visited once a year

Synonyms & Similar Words

• use
• exploit
• leverage
• impose (on or upon)
• play (on or upon)
• abuse
• manipulate
• walk on
• pimp
• trade on
• milk
• capitalize (on)
• cash in (on)
• cheat
• mistreat
• jerk around
• skin
• commercialize
• stick
• overcharge
• fleece
• bleed
• soak
• commodify

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

• composition
• piece
• masterpiece
• opus
• sketch
• number
• magnum opus
• model
• showpiece
• outline
• classic
• oeuvre
• pièce de résistance
• corpus
• étude
• canon

2

as in production

something produced by physical or intellectual effort

the new Web application is the work of a pair of young but highly gifted programmers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• production
• product
• yield
• output
• produce
• labor
• result
• handiwork
• fruit
• thing
• outcome
• affair
• resultant
• object
• article
• entry
• development
• effect
• goods
• commodity
• merchandise
• wares
• issue
• handicraft
• conclusion
• sequence
• line
• consequence
• offspring
• upshot
• sequel
• aftermath
• handcraft
• derivative
• side effect
• corollary
• outgrowth
• residual
• by-product
• spin-off
• offshoot
• aftereffect

3

as in job

the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists

the work of a movie director is to tell a story through a series of striking images

Synonyms & Similar Words

• job
• role
• task
• purpose
• function
• part
• place
• position
• capacity
• business
• mission
• involvement
• participation
• office
• concern
• use
• duty
• situation
• activity
• vocation
• post
• service
• occupation
• hand
• responsibility
• assignment
• commission
• employ
• pursuit
• calling
• affair
• niche
• charge

4

as in effort

the active use of energy in producing a result

put a lot of work into the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

• effort
• pains
• sweat
• labor
• exertion
• energy
• expenditure
• trouble
• while
• try
• toil
• elbow grease
• power
• drudgery
• attempt
• endeavor
• strain
• might
• muscle
• go
• grind
• essay
• slog
• travail
• dint
• pass
• force
• trial
• stab
• shot
• whack
• fling
• puissance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• facility
• ease
• fluency
• smoothness
• inertia
• laziness
• inaction
• idleness
• adroitness
• inactivity
• indolence
• dormancy
• quiescence
• languor

5

as in profession

the activity by which one regularly makes a living

what line of work are you in?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• profession
• vocation
• occupation
• employment
• line
• job
• calling
• trade
• game
• duty
• lay
• task
• mission
• business
• living
• livelihood
• place
• assignment
• art
• position
• call
• office
• enterprise
• field
• engagement
• lifework
• function
• situation
• post
• craft
• gig
• load
• racket
• appointment
• workload
• métier
• handicraft
• handcraft
• billet
• berth

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pursuit
• hobby
• avocation

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

• factory
• workshop
• shop
• plant
• mill
• manufactory
• studio
• workplace
• sweatshop
• atelier
• workroom
• yard

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

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

Recent Examples of work

Verb

During the 2008 financial crisis, California’s unemployment insurance fund also became insolvent, said Michael Bernick, a former EDD director who now works as counsel with Duane Morris LLP. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026

Eric worked so hard to get those cuff links. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026

Noun

The exhibition brings together more than 30 works by Frida Kahlo alongside over 120 pieces by artists across generations, tracing how Kahlo’s image evolved from painter to global symbol. —Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026

Her discomfort with the formal technique seems to throw off her traditional character work, as well. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2026

Phrases Containing work

• out of work
• piece of work
• work (for)
• work in
• work out
• work over
• work up