Synonyms of labored

labored 1 of 2

adjective

as in manufactured

Related Words

• manufactured
• strained
• contrived
• automatic
• forced
• concocted
• pat
• mechanical
• fabricated
• assumed
• unreal
• simulated
• affected
• canned
• feigned
• unnatural
• hollow
• unrealistic
• mock
• exaggerated
• artificial
• pseudo
• phony
• hokey
• plastic
• pretended
• bogus
• sham
• fake
• hypocritical
• factitious
• spurious
• theatrical
• insincere
• unauthentic
• false
• empty
• put-on
• melodramatic
• facile
• unctuous
• mealy
• histrionic
• studied
• wooden
• cultivated
• deliberate
• mealymouthed
• stylized
• conscious
• calculated
• overacted
• impersonal
• overdone
• conventional
• genteel
• two-faced
• cute
• formal
• double-dealing
• mincing
• rigid
• left-handed
• artful
• inflexible
• premeditated
• overrefined
• stiff
• cutesy
• simpering
• goody-goody

Dissimilar Words

• natural
• genuine
• real
• spontaneous
• unaffected
• artless
• bona fide
• true
• right
• authentic
• realistic
• sincere
• honest
• smooth
• easy
• unforced
• ingenuous
• unfeigned
• uncontrived
• effortless
• unconscious
• unpretending
• instinctive
• impromptu
• extemporaneous
• impulsive
• unstudied
• unrehearsed
• unprompted

labored

2 of 2

verb

past tense of labor

as in struggled

to devote serious and sustained effort

the young lawyer labored most of the weekend over the difficult legal brief

Synonyms & Similar Words

• struggled
• worked
• endeavored
• toiled
• tried
• strove
• tugged
• slaved
• plowed
• hustled
• dug (away)
• sweat
• travailed
• grubbed
• fagged
• plodded
• humped
• pegged (away)
• strained
• drudged
• slogged
• plugged
• banged away
• sweat blood
• moiled
• applied (oneself)
• attacked
• beavered (away)
• exerted
• exercised
• pitched in
• hammered (away)
• essayed
• buckled (down)
• dug in
• drove
• scratched
• overworked
• waded
• eked out
• trudged
• knuckled down
• scrabbled
• overexerted
• ground (out)
• put out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slackened
• broke
• eased (up)
• idled
• chilled
• let up
• rested
• loafed
• hung (around or out)
• lounged
• shirked
• dallied
• lazed
• relaxed
• hacked (around)
• basked
• played
• slacked (off)
• bummed
• reposed
• hung
• lolled
• goofed (off)
• unwound
• dabbled
• trifled
• dillydallied
• vegged out
• goldbricked
• footled
• doodled
• fooled around
• hung about
• messed around
• puttered (around)
• pottered (around)
• goofed (around)
• monkeyed (around)
• fribbled

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of labored

Adjective

The recording of the voice-over was in a sense more of a labored experience than the filming. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 30 June 2026

Squandered assets and unexpected free-agent departures turned it into a source of frustration and boredom for fans, who watched labored breakouts, poor puck management and ugly games pile up. — Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 28 June 2026

Verb

England impressed in an exciting 4-2 win over historic overperformers Croatia while another pre-tournament favorite, Portugal, labored to a 1-1 draw with DR Congo. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 18 June 2026

Debby labored and gave birth in our bedroom under a bright full moon and snow outside; Felix arrived right into my hands. — Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026