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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
-
The lunchtime sandwich that reigns supreme is undoubtedly the mushroom dip, with a tangle of Long Beach oyster mushrooms confited in oil, then roasted until their edges become crisp and curl in the pizza oven.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Inside a sourdough bun was an egg square folded with veggies and a tangle of arugula; sesame seeds formed a crisp outer layer on the bun.—
Cesar Hernandez,
San Francisco Chronicle,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Oil and gas infuse the pores of sandstone; layers of impermeable caprock trap it inside.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
When insurers pull out or double their rates, the resulting lack of affordable coverage stalls recovery and traps families in deep financial pits.—
Carlos Curbelo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Most important for companies considering replacing patches of their workforce with AI, the MIT data suggests AI struggles to perform more complicated tasks.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Peet plays a therapist who struggles with her own mental health and the health and familial changes that occur during midlife.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Megan’s Law web site provides the perfect model, and tech has greatly improved over the past 16 years and shouldn’t generate such tremendous cost estimates.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Like him, there were other web developers and students who worked two jobs while getting top grades.—
Mary Ellen Klas,
Mercury News,
3 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
-
After alerting a flight attendant, the woman vanished into the rest room to avoid further entanglement.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
An emotional entanglement or intense conversation could push you to confront where your energy is going.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
All-in-Wonder Foundation + Concealer is a liquid-cream hybrid formula that effectively works as an under-eye concealer, a spot concealer and a full face foundation.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Kraus, who works as a waitress, took photo classes in high school.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Toils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toils. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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