work 1 of 2

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2
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as in to serve
to have a certain purpose the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in to perform
to produce a desired effect this headache remedy takes half an hour to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
6
as in to operate
to control the mechanical operation of show me how to work the machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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8

work

2 of 2

noun

1
as in composition
a literary, musical, or artistic production unfortunately, many of her works are now out of print

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in factory
works plural a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods a glass works where high quality glassware is made

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun work contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of work are drudgery, grind, labor, toil, and travail. While all these words mean "activity involving effort or exertion," work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force.

too tired to do any work

In what contexts can drudgery take the place of work?

The meanings of drudgery and work largely overlap; however, drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor.

an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery

When might grind be a better fit than work?

The synonyms grind and work are sometimes interchangeable, but grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body.

the grind of the assembly line

When could labor be used to replace work?

The words labor and work are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion.

farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor

When is toil a more appropriate choice than work?

The words toil and work can be used in similar contexts, but toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor.

his lot would be years of back-breaking toil

When is it sensible to use travail instead of work?

Although the words travail and work have much in common, travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering.

years of travail were lost when the house burned

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 work
Verb
These low-growing, mounding plants work well as ground covers, edging plants, or in containers. Lauren David, Southern Living, 6 July 2025 Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker can also work their way back into that equation. Katie Woo, New York Times, 6 July 2025
Noun
There is a lot of work ahead for Haliburton on his road to recovery. Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025 Summer Fridays are officially a thing of the past due the prevalence of remote work. Brit Morse, Fortune, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT Updated July 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2025
  • For example, particulate matter 2.5, or PM2.5—which has a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less—can cause respiratory and heart problems.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • No matter what happens, USC’s next president will have a serious financial crisis to solve, a furious faculty to calm and a tense political climate to navigate.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
  • That’s the demand problem that PJM is focused on, which is not Maryland’s problem to solve.
    David S. Lapp, Baltimore Sun, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • Chui and Pang danced, ate cake and toasted with bubbly drinks served in the clear cups typically used on planes.
    Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 15 July 2025
  • The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe serves Seabreeze chocolates for turndown service.
    Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • The military branch is slated to perform its first-ever refueling of a U.S. military asset in orbit as early as next summer.
    Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 10 July 2025
  • Someone performs well, takes on more, delivers again.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • One chair represents the relentless pressure to deliver through hitting growth targets, driving innovation, and meeting stakeholder expectations.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
  • Have a great day, drive safely, and enjoy the ride, as the future looks nice and bright – Tony the Car Guy.
    Tony Leopardo, Mercury News, 13 July 2025
Verb
  • The smart device pairs with Alexa, Siri, and Google Home and can be operated via an app.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 July 2025
  • Today, the University of Arizona operates the project with a different mission.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • Make Healthy Food More Accessible Millions of families struggle to afford healthy food.
    Mike Levin, Oc Register, 10 July 2025
  • Many prominent energy and hardware startups have faltered at this critical juncture, struggling to transition from promising prototypes to reliable performance in real-world settings at scale.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • This is when the teen uses social conflict to express frustration.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • When his young son Walter (Roman Griffin Davis) and Walter’s cat upend the performance with their unruly behavior, Charles’s wife, Catherine (Thurman), persuades Charles not to punish the kid but instead to use the opportunity to teach him about Jesus (Isaac).
    Chris DeVille, The Atlantic, 6 July 2025

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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