as in labored
to devote serious and sustained effort
toiled for many years on the mammoth outdoor sculpture
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Recent Examples of toiled
As the dunk contest has moved from headliners to prospects, the risk of the competition has been coming to be defined solely as a dunker, as was the case for former Heat dunk champion Harold Miner, and even reigning three-time dunk champion Matt McClung; who largely has toiled in the G League.
—
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Villa had taken the lead in the first half through Morgan but toiled in the second, unable to play as incisively after Andoni Iraola tightened his midfield.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Iger, a longtime ABC executive, had toiled years in the shadow of former Chief Executive Michael Eisner and Disney’s board wanted to give him a shot.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
In recent years, the brand has toiled with production and concept campers like few to no other major automakers in the world.
—New Atlas, 25 Jan. 2026
The 26-year-old defenseman, who had toiled for 297 AHL games before getting his first chance at the big time this season with the Bruins, signed a two-year extension with the B’s for an annual salary of $887,500 on Sunday.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
Others toiled in restaurants and cleaned hotel rooms.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Jackson spent time in and out of shelters in grade school and remembers how her mother toiled to keep her in class and out of harm's way.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 28 Dec. 2025
Hawley and Del Toro toiled to figure out how the actors would reshape their performances once in costume.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 14 Nov. 2025
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Villa had taken the lead in the first half through Morgan but toiled in the second, unable to play as incisively after Andoni Iraola tightened his midfield.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Iger, a longtime ABC executive, had toiled years in the shadow of former Chief Executive Michael Eisner and Disney’s board wanted to give him a shot.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
In recent years, the brand has toiled with production and concept campers like few to no other major automakers in the world.
—New Atlas, 25 Jan. 2026
The 26-year-old defenseman, who had toiled for 297 AHL games before getting his first chance at the big time this season with the Bruins, signed a two-year extension with the B’s for an annual salary of $887,500 on Sunday.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
Others toiled in restaurants and cleaned hotel rooms.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Jackson spent time in and out of shelters in grade school and remembers how her mother toiled to keep her in class and out of harm's way.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 28 Dec. 2025
Hawley and Del Toro toiled to figure out how the actors would reshape their performances once in costume.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 14 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toiled
Verb
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When the novel opens in Florence, in 1557, the body of the painter Jacopo da Pontormo lies in the chapel of San Lorenzo—in front of the frescoes he’d labored over for a decade, with a painter’s chisel stuck in his heart.—
Boris Kachka,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
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Aster didn’t micromanage as Tracy labored over the script and suffered a bout of COVID during lockdown.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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With its dynamic freshman depleted from flu and another starter, Chad Baker-Mazara, still out due to injury, USC struggled to find a consistent source of offense.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Founder Sherille Riley, who previously worked as a facialist for high-end brands like La Prairie and Crème de la Mer, had until recently struggled to shop for K-beauty in person and initially bought the products online – only to run the risk of long shipping times or unknowingly buying a fake.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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More famously, Sven Marquardt, worked as a selector for Berghain for almost two decades.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
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The move to Connecticut came later, and Bessette also worked throughout her teen-age years.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Toiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toiled. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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