Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

duty

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of duty

1 a charge usually of money collected by the government from people or businesses for public use
  • the shop at the airport charges no duty on tourist memorabilia
Synonyms of duty

assessment, imposition, impost, levy, tax
Words Related to duty

direct tax, personal tax

capitation, custom(s), excise, hidden tax, income tax, poll tax, property tax, sales tax, single tax, sin tax, tariff, toll, tribute, value-added tax, withholding tax

supertax, surcharge, surtax

death tax, estate tax, inheritance tax

flat tax, proportional tax
2 a piece of work that needs to be done regularly
  • the regular duties of a lifeguard
Synonyms of duty

assignment, chore, job, task
Words Related to duty

chare (or char)

endeavor, enterprise, project, stint, undertaking

care, charge, commission, responsibility

function, mission, office, operation, post

errand

circuit, round, route
3 something one must do because of prior agreement
  • I must obey the call of duty and serve my country
Synonyms of duty

burden, charge, commitment, devoir, do [archaic], imperative, incumbency, need, obligation, office, responsibility
Words Related to duty

oath, pledge, promise, troth, vow, word

arrangement, prearrangement, setup

compact, contract, covenant, pact, trust

debt, payment, tribute

compulsion, constraint, restraint

must, requirement

coercion, duress, force

appointment, engagement, reservation

burden, onus
Near Antonyms of duty

grace, postponement, stay

discharge, ease, exemption, release, relief, waiver

loophole

alternative, choice, option, pick, preference, selection

Synonym Discussion of duty

function, office, duty, province mean the acts or operations expected of a person or thing. function implies a definite end or purpose or a particular kind of work.
    • the function of language is two-fold: to communicate emotion and to give information
    • — Aldous Huxley
office is typically applied to the function or service associated with a trade or profession or a special relationship to others.
    • they exercise the offices of the judge, the priest, the counsellor
    • — W. E. Gladstone
duty applies to a task or responsibility imposed by one's occupation, rank, status, or calling.
    • it is the judicial duty of the court, to examine the whole case
    • — R. B. Taney
province applies to a function, office, or duty that naturally or logically falls to one.
    • I felt it was not my province to inquire
    • — Anne Brontë

Learn More about duty

  1. See words that rhyme with duty Dictionary: Definition of duty Spanish Central: Translation of duty Nglish: Translation of duty for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of duty for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about duty

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up duty? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

ecstatic

Listen to the pronounciation of ecstatic

marked by a state of overwhelming emotion

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. surveillance Comey comments on Barr's use of 'spy'

  2. cavalier Virginia wins men's championship

  3. redact, redacted Barr discusses release of report

SEE ALL
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games