drudge 1 of 2

noun

Definition of drudgenext
1
as in laborer
a person who does very hard or dull work worked like a drudge at a low-paying job that had few benefits

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in drudgery
very hard or unpleasant work it took hours of pure drudge to sort through the junk in the basement

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

drudge

2 of 2

verb

ˈdrəj How to pronounce drudge (audio)
as in to labor
to devote serious and sustained effort factory workers who must drudge all day at repetitive tasks

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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 drudge
Noun
Offload drudge work and risky tasks so humans can focus on safer, more creative work. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025 The corporate laborers of the industrial age were drudges, and might have needed the scaffolding of managerial hierarchies to make widgets in bulk. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2025
Verb
Their previous defeat, a 33-point drudging by the Atlanta Hawks, led to coach Doug Christie chastising his team’s defensive effort after the game. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 14 Nov. 2025 After months of drudging through renovations, the Tiki Taco team will soon enjoy the (jack)fruits of its labor. — Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2024 See All Example Sentences for drudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drudge
  1. laborer
  2. drudgery
  3. labor
  4. worker
  5. effort
  6. struggle
  7. toil
  8. strive
Noun
  • In the previous decades, Japan had brought in many Korean, Chinese, and Taiwanese laborers, often under duress, to work in factories and mines, usually in atrocious conditions.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • When his son suddenly turns up alive and well, Mark and his psychiatrist wife, Abigail (Kerry Washington), realize that the kidnapper accidentally took the child of Ramón (Luis Gerardo Méndez), their housekeeper’s undocumented day-laborer boyfriend.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of laborer
Noun
  • Plastic, prefabrication and push-button convenience suggested that mass production could bring elegant, futuristic living — and freedom from drudgery — within reach of the masses.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Because amid the drudgery, Veach spent endless time one-on-one with Reid, including hours of watching video and learning the game through an entirely new lens.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of drudgery
Verb
  • The circumstances of Saint Michael’s help while the pilgrim labored and delivered in the ocean were markedly different from those in the miracle ascribed to the Virgin.
    — Ellen O’Connell Whittet, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Strange, yes, but definitely more memorable than an accountant in green eyeshade laboring over the books.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of labor
Noun
  • As part of orchestrating this project, Simon was also involved in securing visas for the various international performers, encountering in the process the uneven access to travel for cultural workers across classes, nationalities, and milieus.
    — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The headman is compromised, an NGO in the area is pursuing its own politics, and the man running the mine discloses that Nengsal was never on the books, leaving workers like him invisible on their own land.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of worker
Noun
  • The president talked up Jackson and Senate candidate Mike Collins as part of the White House effort to boost GOP enthusiasm in the upcoming elections.
    — DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Rowling has been staunchly critical of transgender rights activists, funding legal efforts to protect women’s rights and penning X/Twitter posts that are considered to be attacks by the trans community.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of effort
Verb
  • Miller's attempt to recast the conversation about his divorce echoed efforts by other candidates who are struggling to overcome concerns about their character.
    — Lara Korte The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • But more than 40 countries currently struggling with financing and liquidity challenges do not have debt stocks that require imminent restructuring.
    — Masood Ahmed, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of struggle
Noun
  • Celebrities brought their own takes on toil and trouble to the red carpet, though.
    — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Diana went on vacations to get away from her intense public life (and private marital toil).
    — Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of toil
Verb
  • Local government and outside groups have long strived to ban the popular tourist attraction that critics argue is harmful to horses’ well-being.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Stores plan to be thriving Hispanic community hubs Amor Collective will strive to be an event space beyond just meetings and workshops.
    — Terry Tang, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of strive

Browse Nearby Words

drubs
drudge
drudged
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Cite this Entry

“Drudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drudge. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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