as in tangle
something that catches and holds
a married woman hopelessly caught in the toils of an extramarital affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in labors
to devote serious and sustained effort
toiled for many years on the mammoth outdoor sculpture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of toils
Paul Newman, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Both were premised on the idea of frictionless ease, liberating their users from outmoded toils.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
The conceit of narrating a year in one’s life through the toils and sensations of the kitchen is one that many have taken up before.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 4 Feb. 2026
Several Democratic incumbents are seeing their young primary opponents boast impressive fundraising numbers as the party toils between placing its faith in its incumbent establishment or in a future featuring younger, more progressive candidates.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025
The film unfolds from the perspective of an eight-year-old girl named Qing (Aline Chen), who lives and works the land with her mother, Hongmei (Li Yanxi), while her father toils in a factory in a faraway city.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
There has to be a chance that Jos Buttler’s toils in Sri Lanka and India represent his last ventures on the international stage, and therefore the end of an era.
—Paul Newman, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Both were premised on the idea of frictionless ease, liberating their users from outmoded toils.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
The conceit of narrating a year in one’s life through the toils and sensations of the kitchen is one that many have taken up before.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
Union itself released a dramatic trailer set in a surgical amphitheater in which a medical team toils away at the sneaker.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 4 Feb. 2026
Several Democratic incumbents are seeing their young primary opponents boast impressive fundraising numbers as the party toils between placing its faith in its incumbent establishment or in a future featuring younger, more progressive candidates.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025
The film unfolds from the perspective of an eight-year-old girl named Qing (Aline Chen), who lives and works the land with her mother, Hongmei (Li Yanxi), while her father toils in a factory in a faraway city.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toils
Noun
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Namira, whose dark hair had burgundy streaks, wore hoop earrings and a tangle of gold necklaces.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Its tangle-free brush roll comes in handy for cleaning up after pets that frequently shed, too.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Instead, authorities say, Young was led into a trap.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
12 Apr. 2026
-
If paired with traps like this one, scientists elsewhere could start assembling antihydrogen themselves, and this would be a game-changer.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The rickshaws have become increasingly popular in Sierra Leone, filling the gaps in a strained public transport system as the West African country struggles to recover from its 1991-2002 civil war.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Car launches are generally ghastly events, and this was way down there with the most hideous… and perhaps gave a clue as to why VW struggles to match its huge European sales success in America.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Other major targets include an Indian firm specializing in surveillance and electronic warfare, an AI solutions company, and a global web design agency.—
Jessica Klein,
PC Magazine,
11 Apr. 2026
-
From there, The Audacity spirals into a dizzying web of alliances, betrayals and reversals of fortune.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tips for eating Ethiopian food Tedla strives to find the right balance between authenticity for natives alongside choice for people who are curious but nervous about trying a new food.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The word counterculture generally refers to any movement that strives to achieve ideals counter to those of mainstream society.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Materials with high entanglement could become the backbone of future quantum computers or ultra-secure communication networks.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Jaros said sea turtles are drawn to river environments for their warmer temperatures and available food sources, but those same waterways act as funnels for urban runoff and debris, making entanglement a recurring danger for the species.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While the character details of many of the new cast members are unclear, Oscar nominee Sharon Stone is playing a showrunner whom Lexi (Maude Apatow) works for, according to creator Sam Levinson.—
Alyssa Davis,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
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As soft as pajamas yet lovely enough to wear out on the town (or around the ship), the micro modal fabric of these Saint Haven pants drapes elegantly, resists wrinkles, and has a relaxed fit that works equally well at a harbor-side bar or a breezy dinner ashore.—
Amanda Eyre Ward,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Toils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toils. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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