as in disturbances
a state of noisy, confused activity
there was such a to-do when the mice got loose from the science room that I thought the principal was going to close the school
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Recent Examples of to-dos
The most common uses reported were answering etiquette questions, managing timelines and to-dos, writing wedding website copy, and organizing budgets.
—
Shelby Wax, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2026
For a garden with mega color and charm, but with minimal to-dos, look for deer-, drought-, and pest-resistant evergreens and compact flowering shrubs.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
KPIs, BMIs, OKRs, credit scores, savings rates, social media likes, screen time, steps walked, hours worked, hours slept, to-dos done, to-dos still to do, books read, practice hours, blood pressure readings, calories consumed, macronutrient ratios, the list just keeps going.
—Big Think, 20 Feb. 2026
Owning a home comes with a list of to-dos, including exterior maintenance.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 9 Feb. 2026
There are likely a million different to-dos running through your mind, from researching neighborhoods and clearing out your basement to getting preapproved for a mortgage and finding a realtor to work with.
—Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 19 Jan. 2026
For many people, carving out time to slow down can feel like another obligation in a schedule filled with to-dos.
—Cheyanne Mumphrey, Fortune, 17 Jan. 2026
If a household deep-clean is on your list of 2026 to-dos, then a quality vacuum cleaner is a must.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
That's a pretty significant list of to-dos that need doing and estimates that need finalizing, and some of the specs may ultimately get cut or altered before CTT is ready for production.
—New Atlas, 9 Jan. 2026
Shelby Wax, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2026
For a garden with mega color and charm, but with minimal to-dos, look for deer-, drought-, and pest-resistant evergreens and compact flowering shrubs.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
KPIs, BMIs, OKRs, credit scores, savings rates, social media likes, screen time, steps walked, hours worked, hours slept, to-dos done, to-dos still to do, books read, practice hours, blood pressure readings, calories consumed, macronutrient ratios, the list just keeps going.
—Big Think, 20 Feb. 2026
Owning a home comes with a list of to-dos, including exterior maintenance.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 9 Feb. 2026
There are likely a million different to-dos running through your mind, from researching neighborhoods and clearing out your basement to getting preapproved for a mortgage and finding a realtor to work with.
—Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 19 Jan. 2026
For many people, carving out time to slow down can feel like another obligation in a schedule filled with to-dos.
—Cheyanne Mumphrey, Fortune, 17 Jan. 2026
If a household deep-clean is on your list of 2026 to-dos, then a quality vacuum cleaner is a must.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
That's a pretty significant list of to-dos that need doing and estimates that need finalizing, and some of the specs may ultimately get cut or altered before CTT is ready for production.
—New Atlas, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for to-dos
Noun
-
Saturday, when police responded to multiple disturbances within the southwest area of the city, FOX 5 reported.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2026
-
An active weather pattern returns by the end of the week due to a southerly wind, an increase in moisture, and a few different disturbances.—
Lauren Bostwick,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Over the past year, men’s ski jumping has been marred by Norway’s cheating scandal and more recent genital manipulation rumors, which has become one of the early commotions of the Milano-Cortina Games.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
About two couples, connected and dependent on one another, raising their kids alongside each other, facing the same turmoils, the same existential questions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Mayer and Strong offer a broad pop-history lesson, in which the same tensions and turmoils churn on and on in their terrible cycle throughout the decades; the only thing that’s changed are the aesthetics.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Noun
-
Soderbergh extracts some fun from the ensuing cat-and-mouse logistics, from Lori’s meticulous duplication of the Christophers to Julian’s efforts to bluff her into admitting her true intentions.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Emotions could impact your plans for fun!—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Secret churches, perilous conversions During the Palm Sunday service, the in-person audience at the nondenominational church was much smaller than on a typical Sunday, with only about a half-dozen members dotting the rows of blue chairs in front of the stage.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Keep the rows spaced 30 to 36 inches apart to allow for sufficient airflow and growth.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ajmera said her neighbors worry the center could impact their water bills or introduce loud humming noises to the largely residential area.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Desensitize to loud or unusual noises—play recordings of transit sounds—such as subway announcements or car horns—while offering treats to create positive associations.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As for where the strongest storms will be, Hinton said forecast models point to closer to the coastline.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Their frames carry the weight of storms, salt air and centuries.—
Reginald David,
Hartford Courant,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the years after Nixon’s visit, China continued to send pandas to zoos in the United States.—
Chinatsu Tsuji,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Allegheny County said South Park intentionally keeps its herd small, and sometimes individual bison are traded with zoos and wildlife preserves to keep the herd genetics healthy and diverse.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“To-dos.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/to-dos. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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