labor 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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labor

2 of 2

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
This deepened in 2004, when her father lost his job due to an NHL labor lockout. Alessandra Codinha, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2025 As news of the briefings emerged, a former labor ally of Johnson’s issued a letter to aldermen and school board members accusing him of excluding the union. Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
Meloni has embraced the European Union, NATO, and Ukraine, worked to isolate China, and labored deftly to reconcile the fractious relationships between America and Europe during the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. Massimo Calabresi, Time, 24 July 2025 And yet, that dissonance stirred again: this was ancestral land, yes, but whose ancestors had labored here, and whose still held the deed? Essence, 22 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for labor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for labor
Noun
  • His trainer, Abel Sanchez and cut men did a great job neutralizing it.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
  • During a recent piece in which ESPN writers ranked NFL teams based on their future outlooks, Walder offered an incredibly bold prediction on Nix, projecting that the former first-round pick will lose his job soon.
    Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Another reason this increase might not last for the full 400 years? GOP lawmakers are trying to repeal the law, an effort that could succeed if a Republican replaces Evers as governor and Republicans maintain legislative control.
    Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Fundraising efforts and private donations made to the Kane County 4-H Foundation funded the scholarships.
    Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Another says Stan Lee, frustrated by years of toil churning out uninspiring comics, was prompted by his wife to try something new that would excite him.
    Oliver Staley, Time, 25 July 2025
  • Poets toil as often-anonymous individuals building some greater nest, colony, or hive that might outlast us or end up squashed and swept away unceremoniously.
    Hannah Brooks-Motl June 2, Literary Hub, 2 June 2025
Noun
  • And finally, dipping estrogen can reduce blood flow to your pelvic floor muscles, contributing to the weakening of this zone that can naturally happen with age and childbirth, Dr. Adams adds.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Following childbirth, annual follow ups involving questionnaires and health exams were conducted for both mother and child.
    Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 31 July 2025
Noun
  • Nissan delays production of three new electric SUVs at its Mississippi plant until 2028, a three-year postponement.
    Stuart Dyos, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
  • The company announced full production started Aug. 19.
    Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 23 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The state’s newest theory is that Zeigler wore a raincoat while shooting his wife and mother-in-law (who was shot with two different guns) and struggling with his father-in-law — despite the customer having the father-in-law’s blood soaked into his pants.
    Gail Hollenbeck, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Serafin pitches Qualtrics as using technology to solve a problem technology created, saying companies now struggle to piece together a coherent picture of their customers across their call centers, apps, websites, text messages, and social media accounts.
    Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • While the flu shot can cause redness and soreness at the injection site, as well as fever, muscle aches, headache and fatigue, FluMist can cause flu-like symptoms, including runny nose, congestion, sore throat, cough, fever, and muscle aches.
    Alice Park, Time, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Residents report constant running noses, headaches and sore throats.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • At the same time, AI aims to make work more efficient—which is exactly what students are using it for.
    Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2025
  • New and experienced poets can get together to read and share their works.
    La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Labor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/labor. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.

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