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travail

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun travail contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of travail are drudgery, grind, labor, toil, and work. While all these words mean "activity involving effort or exertion," travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering.

years of travail were lost when the house burned

In what contexts can drudgery take the place of travail?

The words drudgery and travail can be used in similar contexts, but drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor.

an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery

When would grind be a good substitute for travail?

Although the words grind and travail have much in common, grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body.

the grind of the assembly line

When is it sensible to use labor instead of travail?

While in some cases nearly identical to travail, labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion.

farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor

When could toil be used to replace travail?

The meanings of toil and travail largely overlap; however, toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor.

his lot would be years of back-breaking toil

When might work be a better fit than travail?

The words work and travail are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force.

too tired to do any work

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 travail
Noun
The band’s recent travails (which include some personal challenges for Carney) seem to color their songwriting, adding a bit of emotional ballast for a band whose lyrics often just seem like riffs on fun rock & roll tropes. Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025 Media attention has focused on the travails of big cities such as Los Angeles, but smaller cities might be the canaries in the coal mine. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
Zhong Shanshan, founder and chairman of beverage giant Nongfu Spring, has reclaimed his crown as China’s richest person amid a turnaround of his business and family travails at top rival Hangzhou Wahaha Group. Yue Wang, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025 For Zegler, making her British stage debut, Evita must seem like a haven of sorts after her travails with the controversy that grew around Snow White, where her casting was subject to racist attacks on social media about her Colombian heritage. Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for travail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for travail
Noun
  • Eileen’s imminent arrival is made even more dramatic when a younger woman named Thea (Imogen Poots) turns up at Hedda’s door in a state of distress.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
  • However, without Chinese demand, this abundant supply threatens to further depress prices and worsen farmers’ financial distress.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Lorraine is haunted by a demonic presence during labor and when the time comes, Judy is stillborn, but the baby miraculously returns to life after Lorraine holds her in her arms.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Analysts also cited lower labor costs, the weaker yuan, innovative technological developments and a robust battery supply chain among Beijing’s key advantages.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Hailey died from childbirth complications moments after welcoming the couple’s first baby.
    Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Turlington founded Every Mother Counts in 2010, after experiencing her own complications with childbirth.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • After struggling in the first half, running back Jerrod Wiley got loose on an untouched 69-yard touchdown run on the first play of the next drive to put Heritage back up two scores at 30-21.
    Jordan Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2025
  • An ugly sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates sunk their struggling offense to new depths and at least temporarily removed Will Smith from the equation.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Hank, having already experienced life-changing failure, is also able to absorb beatings that would destroy most people, endure the agony, and leap back into action.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The buddy story ended in agony when it was revealed that Edwards was on the list and complicit in the ambush plot.
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The merging of the modern and traditional is an effort to help people find God in a new way, said Reverend Jason Roberson, the head priest at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, and to mark the church’s entry into a new century.
    Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
  • With the sandboxing proposal, companies could identify regulations that are obstructing their efforts, and ask for a waiver.
    Emily Wilkins, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Now retired, Andra loved her job working for the federal government and strives to make a difference in the world around her.
    Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Businesses are striving to do more with less, cutting entry-level roles and striving for AI automation to save on headcount costs.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Haley Robson described the anguish caused by ever-metastasizing Epstein conspiracy theories and endless Epstein news cycles, and her hope that releasing the files could finally put the case to bed.
    Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Above all, there’s Rob, whose romantic getaway has turned into a slog of romantic anguish.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Travail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/travail. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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