as in laboring
to devote serious and sustained effort
toiled for many years on the mammoth outdoor sculpture
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Recent Examples of toiling
For instance, said Guo, the falling birth rate means Japan has a shrinking workforce, with fewer young people available to fill the gaps left by aging workers – who in turn are forced to keep toiling instead of retiring.
—
Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
At first glance, Nam-Joon Cho’s lab at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University looks like your typical research facility—scientists toiling away, crowded workbenches, a hum of machinery in the background.
—Sandy Ong, JSTOR Daily, 11 Sep. 2025
What everyone else saw was a quarterback ready for his moment after spending over two years toiling in the background.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 11 Sep. 2025
Many CEOs will have no choice but to devote their efforts to guessing, interpreting and trying to influence what the president wants, rather than toiling on behalf of their shareholders and customers.
—Senior Fellow, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
The aforementioned deal sheets would often see people still toiling away well beyond midnight in order to get late business over the line.
—Leon Imber, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025
Bulls are constantly toiling away at endeavors that speak to their artistry.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Raised in smoky Manchester, her tiny hands toiling away in cotton mills, she’s kept in line by a steely disciplinarian father.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2025
The 26-year-old looks a shadow of the player that helped Liverpool to title glory last season, making rash decisions and generally toiling to cover open space in opening transition.
—Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
At first glance, Nam-Joon Cho’s lab at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University looks like your typical research facility—scientists toiling away, crowded workbenches, a hum of machinery in the background.
—Sandy Ong, JSTOR Daily, 11 Sep. 2025
What everyone else saw was a quarterback ready for his moment after spending over two years toiling in the background.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 11 Sep. 2025
Many CEOs will have no choice but to devote their efforts to guessing, interpreting and trying to influence what the president wants, rather than toiling on behalf of their shareholders and customers.
—Senior Fellow, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
The aforementioned deal sheets would often see people still toiling away well beyond midnight in order to get late business over the line.
—Leon Imber, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025
Bulls are constantly toiling away at endeavors that speak to their artistry.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Raised in smoky Manchester, her tiny hands toiling away in cotton mills, she’s kept in line by a steely disciplinarian father.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2025
The 26-year-old looks a shadow of the player that helped Liverpool to title glory last season, making rash decisions and generally toiling to cover open space in opening transition.
—Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toiling
Verb
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With The Fulfillment, the sub-context is how clout culture is a currency, how attention itself has become a currency, just like our laboring bodies are.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
19 Sep. 2025
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While such a scenario sounds potentially maudlin and manipulative, Lucero — who wrote the film from a personal place — never allows that to happen by making the characters complex and flawed, and laboring under real-life issues.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Maybe new additions will boost a struggling position group.—
Antonio Morales,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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The ever-paranoid Ally believes all of these headscratchers are part of a Trumpian conspiracy that's out to get her, but audiences were left struggling to connect the dots.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As the son of Hades relentlessly striving to escape from the underworld, failure sends players back to the start; but never empty-handed.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
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Though the status quo may provide good results, researchers are constantly striving for something better.—
Sheldon Jacobson,
Twin Cities,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The department is working with an independent monitor to implement reforms and improve accountability.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Oct. 2025
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To promote what executives described as modern ways of working, Elanco changed blueprint plans several times over the course of half a decade.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Toiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toiling. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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