as in workers
a person who does very hard or dull work
they could only find work as laborers unloading cargo ships
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 laborers
In 2024, only 18% of construction laborers and 8% of retail workers in California were represented by a union.
—
Nicole MacIas Garibay, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Both were huge sums at a time when male farm laborers might make about 28 pounds annually if employed year-round.
—Will Glovinsky, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
In their latest motion, Zeigler’s attorneys say that Marques’ and other judges over the years have overlooked Felton Thomas and Edward Williams — two Black laborers who testified against Zeigler at his 1976 trial — as culprits.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
In those eras, local economies thrived on demand for tools, timber, meals, and rooms for laborers chasing the next big thing.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
The relatively few wage laborers mostly lived in these towns, and the relatively few merchants traveled or arranged trade among them.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Lyftogt said Iowans who signed up to fight in the Civil War were overwhelmingly smallholder farmers, laborers and tradesman who saw the possibility of slavery spreading to their borders as a threat to their livelihoods.
—Bill Steiden, Des Moines Register, 24 Mar. 2026
Occupations such as construction laborers, janitors, electricians, barbers, and bartenders, may largely be in the clear, whereas accountants, office clerks, customer service reps, and software developers could be the hardest hit.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026
Those experiences shaped his later activism and commitment to improving working conditions for agricultural laborers, many of whom were immigrants and people of color with few legal protections.
—Paris Barraza, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Nicole MacIas Garibay, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Both were huge sums at a time when male farm laborers might make about 28 pounds annually if employed year-round.
—Will Glovinsky, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
In their latest motion, Zeigler’s attorneys say that Marques’ and other judges over the years have overlooked Felton Thomas and Edward Williams — two Black laborers who testified against Zeigler at his 1976 trial — as culprits.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
In those eras, local economies thrived on demand for tools, timber, meals, and rooms for laborers chasing the next big thing.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
The relatively few wage laborers mostly lived in these towns, and the relatively few merchants traveled or arranged trade among them.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Lyftogt said Iowans who signed up to fight in the Civil War were overwhelmingly smallholder farmers, laborers and tradesman who saw the possibility of slavery spreading to their borders as a threat to their livelihoods.
—Bill Steiden, Des Moines Register, 24 Mar. 2026
Occupations such as construction laborers, janitors, electricians, barbers, and bartenders, may largely be in the clear, whereas accountants, office clerks, customer service reps, and software developers could be the hardest hit.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026
Those experiences shaped his later activism and commitment to improving working conditions for agricultural laborers, many of whom were immigrants and people of color with few legal protections.
—Paris Barraza, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laborers
Noun
-
And so the actor and filmmaker ended up donating $250,000 worth of Visa gift cards to TSA workers at the Atlanta airport on March 27.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Quintal, who was transported to Broward Health Medical Center with injuries along with Wilson, was placed on workers’ comp leave.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Several years later, then-President Abraham Lincoln, a member of the Republican Party, issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, freeing all slaves living in Confederate states who were against the Union.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Mar. 2026
-
People don't know that the Republicans are the party that freed the slaves.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laborers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laborers. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
