roles

noun

variants also rôles
plural of role
as in tasks
the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists studying the role of sunlight in the body's production of vitamin D

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 roles Newman said the landscaping industry has been affected by changing roles, fewer employees and cost. — Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026 Scorpio October 23 – November 21 A group plan can improve when the roles become clearer. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026 Out wide, Oscar Bobb and Kevin, both 23, will compete for starting roles after inconsistent debut campaigns at Craven Cottage. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026 Companies are pulling back on early-career hiring as AI eliminates roles that previous generations used to build foundational skills. — Dana Stephenson, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2026 Southwick is a fast-rising actor who broke out with roles in two recent buzz titles. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026 The roles of these microbacteria range from helping in digestion and other metabolic processes, to assisting in warding off infections. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 13 Aug. 2026 Americans are navigating a labor market with opportunities for some but not for all, sidelining job seekers and leaving many of the youngest job hunters without the foundational roles and skills needed for their futures. — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026 Little is publicly known about their lives or political roles. — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for roles
  1. tasks
  2. purposes
  3. jobs
  4. functions
  5. parts
  6. works
Noun
  • Turn off alerts for a short block and write down priorities, since concrete habits calm anxiety when tasks grow fuzzy.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2026
  • As artificial intelligence revolutionizes how tasks are completed, many people are pleading their cases for why their jobs are important.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of tasks
Noun
  • If approved, the legislation would extend exemptions to class cars built between 1976 and 1985 that are used primarily for exhibition purposes and have limited use on public roadways.
    — Darrielle Fair, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Warner said Idaho Public Archaeology, which has had around 400 volunteers and 5,000 visitors to various projects over the years, serves multiple purposes.
    — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of purposes
Noun
  • The Republican nominee also said the work agreements that allow many state employees to perform their jobs remotely need reform as well.
    — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
  • While the good-paying white-collar jobs in the ‘burbs are getting slashed, the substantial workforce Capital One inherited from Discover in the city of Chicago largely has been spared.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of jobs
Noun
  • Its approach focuses on the instructions a device uses to perform its functions.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Midwives are medically trained to perform many of the same functions and procedures as doctors when women are having babies in low-risk situations.
    — Kristin Wright, NPR, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of functions
Noun
  • Martinelli’s case, similar to the whispers that have emerged this week around Lewis-Skelly, is an example of moving parts within a labyrinthine beast of a transfer system.
    — Kaya Kaynak, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Swaths of Europe are enduring their fifth heatwave of the year this week, with parts of Britain, France, Spain and Italy under extreme heat warnings.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of parts
Noun
  • New York — Artificial intelligence is a game-changing technology that’s already transforming how the world lives and works.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The institution’s collection houses six monumental works by Mora (1866–1936), an innovative artist who has grown to the status of regional hero.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of works

Browse Nearby Words

role-plays
roles
roll
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Roles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roles. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of roles for Spanish Speakers

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