as in labor
very hard or unpleasant work
the donkeywork involved in setting up one's own start-up software firm
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for donkeywork
Noun
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For decades, African economies have struggled to combine labor and capital efficiently.—
Maurizio Caio,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026 -
If a labor deal is agreed to by March 10, it probably would be signed by the end of the month.—
Doug Feinberg,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Eco effort As with many high-end resorts in Costa Rica, there is a relentless desire to preserve the beauty of its host country.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Mar. 2026
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Lael talked about efforts to push more early voting to prevent the kind of issues voters in Dallas County faced on election day.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Over the year, the team handles challenging cases including premature birth, placenta previa, kidney cancer, tuberculosis, and slavery.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Advertisement Gates’ roughly chronological account weaves together major moments in each group’s history, from the Spanish Inquisition and American slavery to World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, and beyond.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The decline of perks, on top of teachers’ financial struggles, may be contributing to burnout at public schools.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
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The struggle of this transit is patience — or the lack thereof.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That mental fatigue is to be expected, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, after Yamamoto’s two-year transition from Japan’s professional league to back-to-back World Series titles with the Dodgers.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
28 Feb. 2026
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Prolonged dehydration can lead to a whole host of health issues, like headaches, muscle cramps, and fatigue.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Confronted with the sudden increase in heat, your cardiovascular system is put to the test – blood vessels dilate, heart rate increases and blood gets pushed to your skin, where it can be cooled more easily by sweat.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
6 Mar. 2026
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Hot stones are added, one by one, as the air inside gets heavier, the heat searing the nose and the throat, the sweat starting in rivulets that turn into streams as the smell gets more intense, the heartbeat swells, the mind races.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Advertisement For months, Talarico adopted a grind-it-out mentality.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
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This is expansion out of consolidation, not a late-cycle grind.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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After a whole season exploring the pains of being an illegitimate child and fears of pregnancy, Sophie and Benedict are now free to have children that would be welcomed warmly into society.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
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But these are the standard-issue growing pains the NHL routinely beats into developing rosters.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
27 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Donkeywork.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/donkeywork. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
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