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

7
8

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

2
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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
Single Arm Dumbbell Row The dumbbell row targets your rear delts and also works your main back muscles. Jakob Roze, Health, 8 Sep. 2025 These highlights were written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story. Eli Hager, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
Courtesy Photo The website that has resulted from all of this work is equal parts intuitive, smart, and artful. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 9 Sep. 2025 Lovevook Laptop Tote Bag Looking stylish for work doesn’t have to mean compromising on function. Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • Honey can contain Clostridium botulinum spores, which can cause infant botulism.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The approach is to solve as many things as possible while people are in prison.
    Kristen Edgreen Kaufman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • This sequel to 2019's Knives Out follows detective Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, who works to solve a murder after a group of frenemies meet on a private Greek island.
    Emy LaCroix, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Their propellants are a mixture of fuel and oxidizer, with metallic powders such as aluminum often serving as the fuel.
    Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • That includes salad and dinner plates, serving platters, pie plates, bowls, and more.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • During the annual Rhythm & Roots Reunion festival, Shanghai is the first to set up a stage for performing bands.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Around the same time, police reported Tammy's death as suspicious and performed an autopsy, with her cause of death being declared asphyxiation.
    Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Police reported the suspect got into an awaiting black SUV driven by a second suspect, and the pair fled the scene.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
  • But there is also a deeper democratic malaise driven by his reluctance to heed the message delivered at the ballot box.
    Cole Stangler, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The changes affect libraries operated by Maricopa County and not cities that operate their own libraries, such as Phoenix.
    Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • To qualify for a portion of the county arts funding, organizations must be active 501(c)3 entities, located and operating in Milwaukee County, organized for the primary purpose of producing or presenting the arts, and open to the general public, according to the county's application terms.
    Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • After struggling in the first half, running back Jerrod Wiley got loose on an untouched 69-yard touchdown run on the first play of the next drive to put Heritage back up two scores at 30-21.
    Jordan Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2025
  • An ugly sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates sunk their struggling offense to new depths and at least temporarily removed Will Smith from the equation.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Russian media reports suggested that Putin stopped using the residence from 2024 amid intensifying Ukrainian drone attacks.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Wash dirty hands before using a touchscreen or laptop keyboard.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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