assignment

1
2
3
as in lesson
something assigned to be read or studied have you read the assignment for tomorrow?

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

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 County election officials want to eliminate precinct assignments in favor of vote centers, which would save the county money and increase flexibility for voters. Jake Allen, IndyStar, 13 Aug. 2025 Track decision patterns across hiring, promotions and strategic assignments. Anna Barnhill, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025 Sasaki is expected to face hitters for three simulated innings on Friday at Dodger Stadium, then head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2025 Per the district’s presentation at Monday’s school board meeting, assignments are posted to Google Classroom or emailed, and staff are available via email or Google Classroom. Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for assignment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assignment
Noun
  • In New Mexico’s most populous city, National Guard troops are listening to the police dispatch calls, monitoring traffic cameras and helping to secure crime scene perimeters, tasks not usually part of the job.
    Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2025
  • By automating repetitive tasks, companies can both cut costs and allow employees to focus on meaningful work, boosting efficiency without sacrificing morale.
    Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The result was a fun cameo arc that ends on the image of Scorsese breaking down in tears after Matt shelves the iconic director’s dream project to save his own job — a turn that earned Scorsese his first acting nomination.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg does a terrific job balancing the different tones, style and pacing of the play’s two halves.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Topical to a fault, Star Line bursts with themes – Chance’s affinity for Black people and his ‘Raq hometown, the loneliness of being a bachelor, his love for his two daughters, getting life lessons from his father, and much else.
    Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2025
  • The lesson of China’s accession to the WTO is that real change must precede market access, not the other way around.
    Wally Adeyemo, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • And their stance is likely to be further boosted by the appointment at the next meeting of Trump nominee Stephen Miran—widely seen by the market as a dove who will push for rates to lower.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2025
  • But on a recent Wednesday afternoon, seven of nine appointments were rescheduled.
    Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • There are examples of when the lines between official duties and personal time are blurred, Terr said.
    Cate Charron, IndyStar, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Following weeks of escalating tensions, Beijing and Washington agreed in May to suspend the hefty duties and loosen several punitive measures imposed in April, as both sides continued to work on hammering out a durable deal.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The mission: save earth’s most precious energy source, butterflies, from an evil AI bot.
    Bryan West, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
  • The German aircraft are currently deployed to Romania as part of NATO's Enhanced Air Policing missions, which were introduced along the bloc's eastern flank after Russia's seizure of Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine in 2014.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The beloved councilwomen, who served in the ‘80s and ‘90s, said city leaders used to be close friends who did their homework and debated in good faith.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Most institutional investors hire proxy advisors to do their homework for them, although some larger investors also have in-house teams.
    Sarah Keohane Williamson, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • But the high on Aug. 21 was about 88 degrees, and readings from Nashville, per the National Weather Service, included: 4 p.m. – 86 degrees.
    Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 23 Aug. 2025
  • For full daily and monthly horoscopes as well as expert readings, see our full Horoscopes experience.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Assignment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assignment. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on assignment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!