1
as in headaches
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
2
as in efforts
the active use of energy in producing a result
a superhuman amount of labor must have gone into designing and building the pyramids of Egypt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in toils
very hard or unpleasant work
a political dissident forced to do six months of hard labor in the salt mines as punishment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in childbirths
the act or process of giving birth to children
the mother's labor lasted for six hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in products
something produced by physical or intellectual effort
a small, personal film that was clearly a labor of love for the director and actors
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in struggles
to devote serious and sustained effort
the young lawyer labored most of the weekend over the difficult legal brief
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of labors
Parents, 21 May 2026
Johnson is consistent in mirroring the release from his pedal and rarely labors when transitioning with route breaks.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Residents need relief from high rates and the city itself labors under a hefty and ever-rising power bill, adding tens of millions to its deficit.
—Craig D. Rose, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026
In fact, to not do so would be robbing yourself of the fruits of your past labors.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Like the appeals made by women during the antiquity to midwife goddesses, prayer and supplication were ways to affirm intentions for healthy pregnancies, calm labors, and living children.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
In the second round, Sarah labors.
—Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
And while the fruits of those labors may not be realized until later in the winter or in the spring — when free agency and the draft finally arrive — the next few days are crucial for laying groundwork.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
Thousands of truck enthusiasts gathered to display their revving, roving labors of love at the annual Lone Star Throwdown in Conroe this weekend, one of the country’s largest custom truck shows.
—Maliya Ellis, Houston Chronicle, 21 Feb. 2026
Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
People who had really long labors and deliveries are at higher risk of developing a pelvic floor prolapse.
—Parents, 21 May 2026
Johnson is consistent in mirroring the release from his pedal and rarely labors when transitioning with route breaks.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Residents need relief from high rates and the city itself labors under a hefty and ever-rising power bill, adding tens of millions to its deficit.
—Craig D. Rose, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026
In fact, to not do so would be robbing yourself of the fruits of your past labors.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Like the appeals made by women during the antiquity to midwife goddesses, prayer and supplication were ways to affirm intentions for healthy pregnancies, calm labors, and living children.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
In the second round, Sarah labors.
—Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
And while the fruits of those labors may not be realized until later in the winter or in the spring — when free agency and the draft finally arrive — the next few days are crucial for laying groundwork.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
Thousands of truck enthusiasts gathered to display their revving, roving labors of love at the annual Lone Star Throwdown in Conroe this weekend, one of the country’s largest custom truck shows.
—Maliya Ellis, Houston Chronicle, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for labors
Noun
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Folks who live close to data centers have reported headaches, vertigo, nausea, sleep disturbances, ear pain and hypertension, the institute website says.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
People in the trial reported similar side effects to those from mRNA Covid vaccines — flu-like symptoms including chills and headaches — that only lasted a couple of days.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Now, our students see through the basic PR/marketing efforts.—
Billee Howard,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
At a base outside of Khomeyn in mid-April, an image showed at least 10 construction vehicles engaged in efforts to reopen one entrance.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
Noun
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There has to be a chance that Jos Buttler’s toils in Sri Lanka and India represent his last ventures on the international stage, and therefore the end of an era.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Both were premised on the idea of frictionless ease, liberating their users from outmoded toils.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Many women may not be aware at all that private details of their childbirths were shared with law enforcement.—
Shoshana Walter,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
In some Michigan counties, Medicaid covers more than half of all childbirths.—
Kristen Jordan Shamus,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Why are taxpayers subsidizing products that worsen diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and metabolic dysfunction?—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors.—
Laura Tortora,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
Verb
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In it, a Native Hawaiian family struggles to reclaim the ancestral lands that colonization, tourism, and rampant development threaten to overrun.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
-
Over the last few years, Keira has lost her ability to speak, has started having seizures, and struggles more and more with walking.—
Elise Esposito,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
Noun
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The plan both helps train entry-level workers to be substance use counselors, case managers and community health workers and also offers zero-interest forgivable loans to workers already in those jobs.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
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The April jobs report came in well ahead of consensus, reflecting the resilience of the economy in the face of rising oil prices and Iran war uncertainty.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,Zev Fima,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
Noun
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In his gorgeous and arresting debut, Nick Martino hurtles through a variety of forms—from sonnets to visual poems to works of visual art—to vividly portray and reflect on a teenager’s world during and after the speaker’s parents’ divorce and his father’s incarceration.—
Craig Morgan Teicher,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
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This matching linen shirt and shorts set works for any occasion or itinerary, from the flight to Europe to a hillside lunch in Positano to a low-key coastal dinner in Lagos.—
Staff Author,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Labors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/labors. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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