as in efforts
very hard or unpleasant work
the donkeywork involved in setting up one's own start-up software firm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for donkeyworks
Noun
-
For almost an hour at BMO Stadium, the defensive efforts of the Los Angeles Football Club and San Jose Earthquakes held up.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
20 Apr. 2026 -
If passed, the bill could let some beach cities and counties, not the Coastal Commission, oversee development of certain housing projects, as well as efforts to create new or improved bike lanes, outdoor dining expansions and temporary street uses connected to big events, such as the 2028 Olympics.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Vivian, who is in her thirties, wore a black baseball cap, loose sweats, and a thick fur coat twice her size.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The adjustable drawstring shorts have an elastic waistband for comfort, while the rayon fabric helps the set keep its shape and look more polished than terrycloth or sweats.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Residents need relief from high rates and the city itself labors under a hefty and ever-rising power bill, adding tens of millions to its deficit.—
Craig D. Rose,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
-
In fact, to not do so would be robbing yourself of the fruits of your past labors.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Gibson cited increasingly severe stomach pains and diarrhea across several days as her family's symptoms.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Branch Rickey and Leo Durocher, the Dodgers’ general manager and manager, took great pains to protect Robinson, but protecting him from all of the vitriol was an impossibility.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There has to be a chance that Jos Buttler’s toils in Sri Lanka and India represent his last ventures on the international stage, and therefore the end of an era.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Both were premised on the idea of frictionless ease, liberating their users from outmoded toils.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Neighbors and other observers in the area blew whistles, honked horns and yelled outrage, with some recording the detention from a distance, but the agents — wearing military-style fatigues and equipment — got the 57-year-old into a vehicle and drove away.—
Mark Vancleave,
Twin Cities,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Four weeks earlier, agents had arrived in Chicago with military fatigues, face masks, armored vehicles, and rifles.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ahmad plays Shah Latif, a British Pakistani actor, who, owing to the exertions of his faithful, often frustrated agent, Felicia (Weruche Opia), is improbably auditioning to be the next James Bond.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
-
That, plus an extra day to recover from their European exertions, with Forest also going to extra time and penalties in Denmark on Thursday, leads me to switch to a home win.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This is perfect for a small household that just needs enough grinds for one pot of coffee at a time.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
-
After using your coffee maker, clean the basin where the grinds go as well as the coffee pot using warm, soapy water.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
18 Apr. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Donkeyworks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/donkeyworks. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
