Synonyms of toilsome

toilsome

adjective

ˈtȯi(-ə)l-səm 

1

as in difficult

requiring considerable physical or mental effort

faced with the toilsome task of cleaning out her deceased father's homestead

Synonyms & Similar Words

• difficult
• challenging
• rigorous
• tough
• demanding
• hard
• formidable
• arduous
• effortful
• complicated
• laborious
• heavy
• strenuous
• rough
• backbreaking
• rugged
• sweaty
• grueling
• exhausting
• severe
• painful
• tall
• uphill
• herculean
• testing
• gruelling
• intricate
• exacting
• murderous
• complex
• stiff
• killer
• moiling
• problematical
• serious
• Augean
• pick-and-shovel
• annoying
• hellacious
• problematic
• stressful
• elusive
• abstruse
• onerous
• labored
• grim
• burdensome
• recondite
• stubborn
• oppressive
• tricky
• troublesome
• involved
• thorny
• brutal
• insoluble
• abstract
• knotty
• hairy
• bruising
• irksome
• vexatious
• ticklish
• tight
• trying
• strict
• spiny
• bothersome
• opaque
• distressing
• stringent
• grievous
• cruel
• taxing
• inhuman

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easy
• simple
• light
• undemanding
• mindless
• effortless
• soft
• cheap
• facile
• elementary
• uncomplicated
• manageable
• clear
• doable
• achievable
• gentle
• smooth
• painless
• comforting
• soothing
• relaxed
• accessible
• friendly
• user-friendly
• idiotproof

2

as in challenging

requiring much time, effort, or careful attention

this is the most toilsome part of the construction, so we'll go slowly to make sure we're doing it right

Synonyms & Similar Words

• challenging
• difficult
• demanding
• arduous
• laborious
• onerous
• burdensome
• tough
• hard
• gruelling
• grueling
• exacting
• strenuous
• taxing
• formidable
• testing
• persnickety
• killing
• oppressive
• herculean
• rigorous
• rough
• rugged
• stiff
• severe
• trying
• stringent
• strict
• stern
• rigid

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• light
• undemanding
• easy
• simple
• smooth
• unchallenging
• effortless
• facile
• nondemanding

Examples of toilsome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, Republicans lacked the votes to pass anything so their amendments tended to be trollish and toilsome fliers meant to either own the libs or just annoy the legislators. —Matt Ford, The New Republic, 9 Aug. 2022

But as these commemorations advance these important discussions, another more toilsome question continues to unfold in the background: What will happen to those who actually participated in the attack on the U.S. Capitol? —Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 8 Jan. 2022

Though the third quarter was significantly better for Netflix than its previous quarter, the company signaled that there could be toilsome times ahead. —Natalie Jarvey, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Oct. 2019