assignment

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as in lesson
something assigned to be read or studied have you read the assignment for tomorrow?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun assignment contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of assignment are chore, duty, job, stint, and task. While all these words mean "a piece of work to be done," assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

a reporter's assignment

When is it sensible to use chore instead of assignment?

While the synonyms chore and assignment are close in meaning, chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

every child was assigned chores

When is duty a more appropriate choice than assignment?

Although the words duty and assignment have much in common, duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

the duties of a lifeguard

When might job be a better fit than assignment?

The synonyms job and assignment are sometimes interchangeable, but job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance.

the job of turning the company around

When could stint be used to replace assignment?

In some situations, the words stint and assignment are roughly equivalent. However, stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

a 2-month stint as a reporter

When can task be used instead of assignment?

The meanings of task and assignment largely overlap; however, task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance.

charged with a variety of tasks

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 assignment Position players have 20 days to complete minor league rehab assignments, but the Mets are hopeful Vientos will return before his clock runs out. Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025 On June 4, Posey designated first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. for assignment and signed Dominic Smith as part of a seismic roster shakeup. Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 15 June 2025 Ironically, Wilson had earlier survived the deadliest stunt assignment in industry history, the aerial acrobatics for Hell’s Angels (1930), the dream project of the megalomaniacal Howard Hughes. Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 14 June 2025 That became evident early on when relievers Jordan Wicks and Luke Little were quickly demoted to Triple-A Iowa after poor outings, third baseman Matt Shaw was sent down to work on his hitting and infielder Gage Workman was designated for assignment and then traded. Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for assignment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assignment
Noun
  • Look for opportunities where AI can take on repetitive work and free teams to focus on more valuable tasks.
    Nik Froehlich, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • But Palo Alto did some research and determined that AI could only solve 18% of those issues by summarizing information, the task that large language models are best at.
    John Kell, Fortune, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Burgess and Eleanor’s View The most interesting part of our jobs is covering lawmakers as people.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 17 June 2025
  • Gender neutral names for Capricorn Bennett: Bennett is here to get the job done.
    Kara Nesvig, Parents, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • Smith, whose first store in Nottingham, England, measured exactly three square meters, or 32 square feet, is still learning lessons from the shop floor.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 20 June 2025
  • Our challenge is to ensure each generation has the opportunity to engage with our stories, characters and life lessons.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • Inmates could not receive visits or make phone calls, and prisoners at the state’s highest-security institutions were confined to their cells except for essential services, such as legal and medical appointments.
    Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
  • At issue in the case was a lawsuit that sought to undo the preventive care provision by challenging the appointment process for members of a 16-person task force that determines which preventive services are to be provided for free under insurance policies.
    Nina Totenberg, NPR, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Gunn explained that Chesterton and Porter Police each have one dispatcher on duty answering calls for their respective departments.
    Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2025
  • Following the shooting, he was overwhelmed by funeral arrangements, communications with the police, the duty of informing friends and family, legal paperwork, and more.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2025
Noun
  • Unfortunately, Sam’s missions keep her from fulfilling her maid of honor duties, so Betsy replaces Sam with her soon-to-be sister-in-law (Anna Chlumsky).
    Erin Jensen, USA Today, 21 June 2025
  • But helping people understand the mission was one half of the journey.
    Sara Braun, Fortune, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • Brand has visions of a computer lab to do homework and watch basketball, as well as a kitchen downstairs to ensure healthy eating habits.
    Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 27 June 2025
  • Congress, as the old saying goes, has never been good about getting its homework in on time.
    Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • The initiative is a partnership between the district and the City of Little Rock in that local businesses, community partners and members are engaged in the effort to encourage more reading, particularly for elementary students.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 22 June 2025
  • Every week, Bee would send out the readings for the next class, which were often how-to guides for things like makeup and hair, lip syncing, song memorizing, and choreography.
    David Mack, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Assignment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assignment. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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