1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in effort
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in toil
very hard or unpleasant work
a political dissident forced to do six months of hard labor in the salt mines as punishment
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4
as in childbirth
the act or process of giving birth to children
the mother's labor lasted for six hours
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5
as in production
something produced by physical or intellectual effort
a small, personal film that was clearly a labor of love for the director and actors
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as in to struggle
to devote serious and sustained effort
the young lawyer labored most of the weekend over the difficult legal brief
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of labor
Solcyré Burga, Time, 21 May 2025
Among the problems and setbacks at NASSCO, CRS said, were the accidental flooding of a dry dock in 2018, labor shortages, difficulty getting parts, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and failures with robotic steel cutting and welding equipment.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 2025
John McCann, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2025
Meanwhile, Auschwitz was expanding as the prisoners labored until breaking point to erect new walls, barracks, crematoriums and gas chambers.
—Paul Hockenos, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for labor
Noun
The idea has also drawn criticism from a number of economists and labor advocates.
—Solcyré Burga, Time, 21 May 2025
Among the problems and setbacks at NASSCO, CRS said, were the accidental flooding of a dry dock in 2018, labor shortages, difficulty getting parts, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and failures with robotic steel cutting and welding equipment.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 2025
Verb
Our Public Works crews labored over the years, proactively clearing storm drains, helping residents address vulnerabilities on their properties.
—John McCann, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2025
Meanwhile, Auschwitz was expanding as the prisoners labored until breaking point to erect new walls, barracks, crematoriums and gas chambers.
—Paul Hockenos, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for labor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for labor
Noun
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One incentive to keep trying is the success of Naïma (Samia Hilmi), who is preparing to move with her child into their own flat and is on track to secure a job as a railway ticket inspector.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2025
-
Here’s a look at the life lessons the Thunderbirds have learned from their work that can apply to any job or life stage.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
24 May 2025
Noun
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While his admission may seem like a slight, cracking the list of the league’s top 10 defenders each season is a difficult task, particularly for perimeter players whose efforts aren’t as well represented by defensive metrics.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
23 May 2025
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The vast majority of Customer Success leaders (89%) are making scale and efficiency a primary goal of their efforts, according to a survey of research conducted by Gainsight.—
Stephen Diorio,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Noun
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His instincts were forged during the Cultural Revolution, in the 1960s and 1970s, when his family fell from grace and he was sent to toil in rural Shaanxi.—
Zongyuan Zoe Liu,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Apr. 2025
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But this season has been one of toil as well as triumph, of inconsistency and dramatic defeats such as Saturday’s 4-1 loss at Aston Villa, as well as long winning runs and historic results.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
For years, society has warned women against childbirth after 35.—
Essence,
Essence,
20 May 2025
-
In the five years following childbirth, 26% of fathers had been promoted or had moved to a better job compared to only 13% of mothers.—
Eva Epker,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
Noun
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An easy style, production and physical comparable for Savoie is former Condors right winger Kailer Yamamoto.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
-
Now, Red Sox manager Alex Cora has spoken out about potentially moving Story, factoring in both his production and his injury history as the shortstop looks to play in more than 150 games for the first time since 2018.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 May 2025
Verb
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Rob Crossan January 17, 2025 Marketed as a luxury tourist destination, the Maldives struggles with the legacy of an authoritarian government and the existential threat of climate change.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
23 May 2025
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While many companies have struggled to define their policies, bouncing between strict return-to-office mandates and hybrid compromises, Logitech has taken a different path.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Noun
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Once doctors reviewed the family’s travel history, treatment was quickly shifted to address concerns of histoplasmosis, which the CDC explains can cause cause flu-like symptoms including fever and chills, malaise, cough, headache, chest pain and body aches.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
23 May 2025
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Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 May 2025
Noun
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Laundry sanitizers are also recommended for washing work clothes that have been contaminated with pathogens of human, animal, or agricultural origin.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 May 2025
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High calcium levels can affect how fast your heart beats and how well other heart medications work.—
Health,
Health,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Labor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/labor. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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