labor 1 of 2

Definition of labornext
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as in job
a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work one of the labors of Hercules in classical mythology was to clean out the stables of King Augeas

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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labor

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun labor contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of labor are drudgery, grind, toil, travail, and work. While all these words mean "activity involving effort or exertion," labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion.

farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor

Where would drudgery be a reasonable alternative to labor?

The words drudgery and labor can be used in similar contexts, but drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor.

an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery

When is it sensible to use grind instead of labor?

The words grind and labor are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body.

the grind of the assembly line

When might toil be a better fit than labor?

The synonyms toil and labor are sometimes interchangeable, but toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor.

his lot would be years of back-breaking toil

When could travail be used to replace labor?

While in some cases nearly identical to labor, travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering.

years of travail were lost when the house burned

When would work be a good substitute for labor?

Although the words work and labor have much in common, work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force.

too tired to do any work

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 labor
Noun
The legislation would ease the path toward forming unions and winning labor contracts. Max Zahn, ABC News, 30 June 2026 But these installations are also economic assets located near transportation networks, energy corridors, industrial infrastructure, research institutions, and skilled labor pools. Marc Andersen, Fortune, 30 June 2026
Verb
About 2,700 engineers labored on the project. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026 Another laboring woman with the same image on her phone. Karli Swenson, The Conversation, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for labor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for labor
Noun
  • Lee Feldman held the job for seven years until he was fired in 2018 by the commission.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
  • Proponents of the authorization note that the $155 million investment arrives four years after a severe drought in the Sacramento Valley in 2022 had cost local communities hundreds of millions of dollars and roughly 1,500 jobs.
    Lyanne Wang, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • A bit of a surprise here, as the Warriors were reportedly shopping the 11th pick in an effort to bolster their roster with a win-now player.
    Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 24 June 2026
  • The search stems from a years-long effort by authorities to revisit information connected to Mansfield, whose family lived on Centerwood Avenue in Hernando County.
    Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • This could lead to new deliveries for shareholders and customers once your team is freed from toil.
    Mark Hull, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
  • Pure white cloth, born in the murderous toil of slavery, formed in debilitating factory conditions, and finished through the agony of Sicilian children, was bleached in more ways than one.
    Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • Doulas practice across the country to assist patients before, during, and after childbirth, particularly with their emotional and physical needs.
    Anna Halkidis, Parents, 26 June 2026
  • After the death of Viserys’ wife and Rhaenyra’s mother Aemma during childbirth, Rhaenyra is named heir to the throne during a time where no woman had been named heir before.
    Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • The production made use of Malaysia’s post-production infrastructure and incorporated creative voices from across South and Southeast Asia.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 July 2026
  • Luma has been making inroads into Hollywood selling its software but has separately funded a production service company to teach filmmakers to make hybrid AI films using its tools.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • Amid the mutiny in the House, Johnson canceled unrelated votes, struggling to get enough support to move the legislation.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • The Pirates posted a six-run fifth inning against struggling starter Aaron Nola (3-5).
    CBS News, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • That’s when the real headache for businesses began, as customs checks, border controls and reams of paperwork came into force.
    Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 22 June 2026
  • But the move enabled Florida to lock in what will be one of the best top-six forward groups in the league, slotting Brady Tkachuck into the left wing spot on the second line alongside center Sam Bennett and right wing Matthew Tkachuk that will cause opponents major headaches.
    Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • Roth was placed on administrative leave but returned to work shortly afterward, according to the lawsuit.
    Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • Considering flight attendants spend the majority of their week living out of a suitcase, their luggage has to be truly top-tier—capable of holding all of their work essentials, personal items, and more without missing a beat.
    Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Labor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/labor. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

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