TOILSOME Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

toilsome

adjective

ˈtȯi(-ə)l-səm

Definition of toilsome

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of toilsome 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for toilsome

Adjective

Her protectiveness of the island stretches back years, in part because Nantucket saved her, in a way, during a difficult time in her life.

— Wendy Naugle, USA Today, 11 July 2026
In the book, Hollis asks Gigi to stay after a difficult conversation about the affair.

— Max Gao, Variety, 11 July 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

These renovations have made Bliss Matcha & Beyond’s move less challenging, according to Gorski.

— Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 11 July 2026
Ahead of a challenging midterm election, Republicans have seized an opportunity to castigate their opponents as extremists after democratic socialists won recent Democratic congressional primaries in New York and Colorado.

— Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 July 2026

Definition of challenging

Adjective

Any new toll roads would have to make practical sense and survive rigorous feasibility studies.

— Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026
Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of financial products.

— Liz Knueven, CNBC, 10 July 2026

Definition of rigorous

Adjective

Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson star as two young men who sign up for a physically demanding and deathly competition led by Mark Hamill’s Major.

— Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 10 July 2026
The leading Chinese models still trail the frontier on the most demanding reasoning work, a gap this publication walked through when DeepSeek cut prices in April.

— Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of demanding

Adjective

The talks are meant to focus on the toughest matters, including fully reopening the strait and rolling back Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.

— Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Patrick Cantlay made a little noise in an otherwise quiet year for the American with five birdies in 10 holes and then a collection of tough par saves at the end that felt just as valuable.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

But its insistence on seeing the birth of a nation as a dangerous endeavor requiring persistent, even arduous, generosity proves enchanting.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 July 2026
In the weeks since, teams have been clearing the Cape Canaveral launch site of debris and beginning the arduous process of rebuilding.

— Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Definition of arduous

Adjective

Not long afterward, he was elected president on a platform deeply hostile to the West and its liberal ideology, and especially to the United States — threatening a hard fight in the event of war.

— Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
That’s hard to imagine of a president who uses the office to promote and prosper from his own brand name.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

Definition of hard

Adjective

Additionally, tracing back what infected someone can be a laborious process.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
Hader survived a laborious outing to strand the bases loaded in the ninth, Paredes tied the game with a solo home run in the eighth and Walker won it with a three-run shot in the 10th.

— Chandler Rome, New York Times, 29 June 2026

Definition of laborious

Browse Nearby Words

toils

toilsome

token

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“Toilsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toilsome. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of toilsome

adjective

Example Sentences

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