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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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
Ward has to play faster in the pocket and continue to work on ball placement. Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 30 July 2025 Check out any over-50 star still working — nearly all have full, Samson-like manes to match their career stamina. Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2025
Noun
Though Millsap suddenly found herself out of work, there is little legal recourse for her or the rest of the employees at Okra. Evan Moore july 31, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2025 Thankfully, for me, the years of hard work all paid off. Salman Chowdhury, CNBC, 31 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 2 Aug. 2025
  • This set up a cold draft that negatively affected the plants, causing some formerly unexplained rot over the winter.
    Dr. Matthew Lisy, Hartford Courant, 2 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • But the next couple of years will ultimately be how Guerin is judged, starting with solving the Kaprizov extension and the Rossi saga.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 31 July 2025
  • After being framed, Layla is given a deal to work with Elise in order to solve this mystery that could lead to a reaper cure.
    Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 31 July 2025
Verb
  • The Bastrop district serves 13,000 students in Bastrop, Cedar Creek, Red Rock, Rockne and Paige.
    Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
  • That will serve him well in his new role since most tribal land in Wisconsin is forested or rural.
    Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 30 July 2025
Verb
  • Shumate’s memo directs prosecutors to prioritize investigations against doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies that perform such procedures.
    Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Ursa Minor recently consolidated its split California/Oregon operations into a single facility in the Portland area, which performs all installations.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • That in turn drove low wages for workers, high staff turnover and limited capacity for children.
    Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 26 July 2025
  • Ananya, driven by loyalty to her grandmother’s legacy and her own political ambitions, reboots this project with ruthless determination.
    Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • The technical architecture operates on a zero-trust principle, storing all privileged credentials in secure digital vaults and releasing them only momentarily to verified users or systems.
    Steve McDowell, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • The aircraft carrier is currently operating in the Timor Sea as part of the multinational Talisman Sabre 25 exercise organized by Australia and the U.S., per USNI News.
    Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • But AmeriCorps officials have struggled in recent years to provide financial information to auditors and have acknowledged the need for reforms.
    Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 23 July 2025
  • The party of the president usually struggles in a midterm election like next year's race to replace Peters.
    M.L. Elrick, Freep.com, 23 July 2025
Verb
  • The participants didn’t use snorkels or fins but instead held their breath while diving deep into the ocean, often off La Jolla.
    Ashley Mackin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2025
  • Residents can also use AirNow, a part of the U.S. Air Quality Index, and check local conditions by searching their ZIP Code or city.
    Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 31 July 2025

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

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