Synonyms of drudge

drudge 1 of 2

noun

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

• laborer
• worker
• slave
• peon
• toiler
• plugger
• grunt
• drudger
• dogsbody
• foot soldier
• slogger
• grubber
• drone
• grub
• serf
• workhorse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shirker
• idler
• slug
• loafer
• sluggard
• slouch
• goldbrick
• lazybones

2

as in drudgery

very hard or unpleasant work

it took hours of pure drudge to sort through the junk in the basement

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drudgery
• labor
• effort
• toil
• sweat
• grind
• slavery
• fatigue
• pains
• exertion
• travail
• struggle
• moil
• job
• responsibility
• trouble
• donkeywork
• duty
• obligation
• tedium
• chore
• spadework
• treadmill
• routine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rest
• fun
• leisure
• play
• ease
• amusement
• relaxation
• entertainment
• diversion
• decompression
• recreation
• repose
• sport
• idleness
• inertia
• dalliance
• inactivity
• loafing
• dormancy
• inertness
• goldbricking
• dallying
• lounging
• lolling

drudge

2 of 2

verb

ˈdrəj 

as in to labor

to devote serious and sustained effort

factory workers who must drudge all day at repetitive tasks

Synonyms & Similar Words

• labor
• struggle
• strive
• work
• toil
• endeavor
• slave
• try
• plow
• sweat
• tug
• hustle
• plod
• travail
• slog
• dig (away)
• strain
• moil
• plug
• beaver (away)
• grub
• bang away
• hump
• fag
• apply (oneself)
• peg (away)
• sweat blood
• essay
• buckle (down)
• attack
• pitch in
• exercise
• exert
• trudge
• hammer (away)
• scratch
• overwork
• knuckle down
• wade
• eke out
• drive
• dig in
• grind (out)
• overexert
• put out
• scrabble

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• break
• ease (up)
• bum
• shirk
• slacken
• idle
• let up
• lounge
• rest
• hang (around or out)
• chill
• slack (off)
• loaf
• laze
• goof (off)
• hack (around)
• bask
• relax
• repose
• unwind
• dally
• play
• loll
• goldbrick
• trifle
• fool around
• hang
• veg out
• dabble
• footle
• dillydally
• goof (around)
• mess around
• doodle
• monkey (around)
• hang about
• putter (around)
• potter (around)
• fribble

Example Sentences

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