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
-
Commercial airplanes cruise at speeds of up to 600 miles per hour (521 knots) at altitudes between 30,000 and 42,000 feet, levels which are specifically selected to reduce disturbances.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Several fungal species are most often carried by dust and other soil disturbances, posing health risks when inhaled.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 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
-
At Colorado Pinball Pub, rows of glowing machines pull you into the nostalgia of the game.—
Brittany Anas,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2026
-
In the days before Holy Week, the statues are hoisted onto large platforms with rows of parallel wooden beams running underneath.—
Alexis Marshall,
NPR,
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
-
Even minor changes in clouds, wind or storms can force delays, especially for a mission of this scale.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
For people living along the coast, sand also defends against intense storms and sea level rise fueled by climate change.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
The Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens has once again been named as one of the top zoos in the US in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, less than two weeks after opening a $72 million new entryway and manatee-care facility.—
Tom Szaroleta,
Florida Times-Union,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“To-dos.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/to-dos. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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