work 1 of 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
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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

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noun

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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
Different artists work with AI as a co creator, helping generate new ideas, explore new styles, and really push the boundaries of what's possible with their creative processes. Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025 The board has worked diligently, all nine members, on a volunteer basis to fight for more access, and that has continued even as the relationship has changed with the White House. DEADLINE: What other issues, the seating. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
The untitled 1981 work hasn’t been seen publicly in 36 years. Daniel Cassady For Artnews, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 2025 Like in many of the cases across the country, the judge granted the order, allowing Daou to return to work, and ensuring his visa would not be terminated and he would not be detained or deported without due process. Clara-Sophia Daly, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • Market selloffs cause many higher-income Americans whose net worth is significantly lower to reduce their spending.
    Paul Davidson, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • If your case is fully nontaxable, that causes no tax problems.
    Robert W. Wood, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The hedge-fund collapses and Russian debt default in the 1998 financial panic and the U.S. sovereign-debt standoff in 2011 also did not feel as if they had been solved at the point the stock market started rebounding.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Apr. 2025
  • His presence is part of the peculiar riddle that Djokovic, who turns 38 on May 22, has been trying to solve for going on two years now.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • From now until June 27, 18 DMV offices will open at 7 a.m., an hour earlier, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays to serve only people with appointments to obtain a Real ID.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
  • His father, who has also served significant time in prison, explained the emotional weight of watching his son endure a similar experience.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • At a suitable moment, the charger performs a USB PD Data Role (DR) Swap.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Their offense, though, is performing below league average.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The video showed several vehicles that drove around the minivan in the lanes on either side.
    Latoya Gayle, People.com, 2 May 2025
  • Bracing for impact Meanwhile, expectations of a hit to the global economy from Trump’s tariffs have helped drive energy prices lower since April 2, as traders predict less demand for fuels.
    Olesya Dmitracova, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • The Federal Reserve operates independently when setting short-term rates and does not take direction from Congress, the president or political campaigns.
    Susan Tompor, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • SuperDrive operated the truck without a human driver in the cabin or remote intervention.
    Richard Bishop, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The on-again-off-again tariff announcements have rattled investors, wiping out trillions in value from stock markets and frustrating business leaders who are struggling to make business decisions without knowing how much goods will cost in the long run.
    Brian Bennett, Time, 29 Apr. 2025
  • But 100 days into his second term in the White House, the president is struggling to deliver on those promises.
    Alain Sherter, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Mangione handed arriving officers a fake New Jersey ID that was used at the New York City hostel days earlier and was subsequently arrested.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Start today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $67 (+taxes and fees) through May 13, 2025.
    Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 8 May. 2025.

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