1
as in pains
a state of great suffering of body or mind
no greater travail than that of parents who have suffered the death of a child
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in efforts
very hard or unpleasant work
these villagers now have decent housing, so our travail has not been in vain
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in childbirths
the act or process of giving birth to children
a midwife assisted her throughout her long travail
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in struggles
to devote serious and sustained effort
Labor Day is the day on which we recognize those men and women who daily travail with little appreciation or compensation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of travails
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
The receivership situation was first reported by Crain's Detroit, which has also chronicled Holtzman's financial travails.
—Jc Reindl, Freep.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Entirely outside the symbolic order, nature goes about its business, taking no notice of our seemingly momentous upheavals, our dumb travails.
—Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Milwaukee Film unveiled the first half-dozen movies in the lineup for the 2025 Dialogues Documentary Festival, covering topics ranging from the travails of a cat hospice to the life and history of the girl in the rubber slippers, aka Dorothy Gale.
—Chris Foran, jsonline.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Bondi’s Epstein travails began on February 21st.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Depicting the travails of a dog facing the fate alluded to in the title, Fixed plays like a canine version of The 25th Hour, except that instead of going to prison the next day, the main character is about to be neutered.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 6 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
But that doesn’t save her from experiencing many terrors, or her doubting mother Laras from still worse travails.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
This is a case where people who have already gotten to know these characters and their travails on a small screen (the show ran for six seasons) are happy to spend extra money to bask in their further joys, sorrows, and anxieties writ large, on a big screen.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
The receivership situation was first reported by Crain's Detroit, which has also chronicled Holtzman's financial travails.
—Jc Reindl, Freep.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Entirely outside the symbolic order, nature goes about its business, taking no notice of our seemingly momentous upheavals, our dumb travails.
—Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Milwaukee Film unveiled the first half-dozen movies in the lineup for the 2025 Dialogues Documentary Festival, covering topics ranging from the travails of a cat hospice to the life and history of the girl in the rubber slippers, aka Dorothy Gale.
—Chris Foran, jsonline.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Bondi’s Epstein travails began on February 21st.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Depicting the travails of a dog facing the fate alluded to in the title, Fixed plays like a canine version of The 25th Hour, except that instead of going to prison the next day, the main character is about to be neutered.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 6 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
But that doesn’t save her from experiencing many terrors, or her doubting mother Laras from still worse travails.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for travails
Noun
-
Yet, the new Terminal 1 has several stores that take great pains to include local flair.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The movie is, in part, about the labor pains of its creator, the screenwriter Charlie Kaufman.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Legislative efforts, often spearheaded by 'English-only’ advocates, routinely failed in Congress.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Topography will continue to drive spread and directional influence, while steep, inaccessible terrain hampers suppression efforts.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In some Michigan counties, Medicaid covers more than half of all childbirths.—
Kristen Jordan Shamus,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In recent decades, as China has laid down vast networks of high-speed rail and thrown up shimmering cities, Americans have developed a deepening sense that their own country struggles to get things done.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
-
He was sacked six times by a team that struggles to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.—
Steve Silverman,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Around you the parched land and empty sky point less to the idea of death and more to labors in the afterlife.—
Fred Marchant,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
-
But ambitious ones have become rarities, much like long magazine features and serious documentaries, surviving either as luxuries created by the privileged few or as labors of love made in the margins by committed independents who will work to keep the form alive.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Despite the glitz and glam of her showbiz career, Sweeney strives to keep her feet on the ground amid her growing It Girl status.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
An assertive Iran has been especially a thorn in the side of Saudi Arabia, which strives to be the dominant Muslim majority power in the region.—
David Mednicoff,
The Conversation,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This has been a turbulent window for Villa, not only against the backdrop of such challenges but also the toils involved in moving current players on.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Technology works, but scaling it to a level that meaningfully impacts global emissions is an entirely different challenge.—
Peter Bendor-Samuel,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Otherwise, the oil works as a specialized scalp treatment, too, or to provide nourishment during protective styling.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Travails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/travails. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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