toilsome

adjective

ˈtȯi(-ə)l-səm How to pronounce toilsome (audio)
Definition of toilsomenext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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
  1. difficult
  2. challenging
  3. rigorous
  4. demanding
  5. tough
  6. arduous
  7. hard
  8. laborious
Adjective
  • Strickland said even getting equipment on the road during construction can be difficult for farmers.
    — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 July 2026
  • While following the money may be difficult, there are other signs of the growing role of organized crime in politics.
    — Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • In April, DeepSeek rolled out previews of its latest V4 model, challenging OpenAI’s GPT and Google’s Gemini.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 2026
  • As a business owner, Maloney says, the most rewarding and most challenging aspect of the job is making all the decisions and solving every problem.
    — Claire Hall, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026
Definition of challenging
Adjective
  • Then again, allowing American companies to sell BPC-157 for human use could create the impression that the peptide, which hasn’t passed through the rigorous process the FDA uses to approve new drugs, nonetheless has the agency’s blessing.
    — Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
  • Hydrogen requires specialized storage systems, dedicated airport infrastructure, and rigorous safety standards.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026
Definition of rigorous
Adjective
  • The company positions it as a daily-use model rather than one reserved only for the most demanding workloads.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026
  • Valdebebas sources describe Mourinho as demanding but approachable — someone who pushes players hard while remaining involved in every detail of training.
    — Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of demanding
Adjective
  • There were tough conversations between Naylor and Cleveland’s coaches and front office.
    — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Villegas, after a tough primary election battle against Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, has roughly $572,000.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • After decades of arduous preparation, the largest, most ambitious survey of the night sky ever created has at last opened its eye.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 24 July 2026
  • The most notable travels were by Faxian and Xuanzang, two Chinese Buddhist monks who undertook arduous journeys to India to learn more about the region and its culture.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026
Definition of arduous
Adjective
  • Essentially a rock has met a hard place – at the mouth of the Persian Gulf.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • Remember, all this hard work to discover all these things has been done in the midst of designing a ballroom, cleaning up the reflecting pool and a host of other busy things the president and his administration have been doing.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026
Definition of hard
Adjective
  • The European Union and the United States took one ultra-laborious step forward in ratifying their bilateral trade deal in late June.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 23 July 2026
  • This process eliminates the costly and laborious step of sorting plastic waste before recycling.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026
Definition of laborious

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Cite this Entry

“Toilsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toilsome. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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