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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Marlene L. Daut
september 22, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
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
Noun
Welles’s success in bringing the tragedy of Christophe as the Haitian Macbeth to the stage was not without its own travails.
—Marlene L. Daut
september 22, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for travails
Noun
-
For many, the virus results in flu-like symptoms, such as a fever with headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, per the CDC.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
-
In April, 44-year-old Marie Ange Blaise, a Haitian, died while being held at GEO’s Pompano Beach facility after complaining of chest pains.—
Shirsho Dasgupta,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
One person close to White House staff’s efforts to keep the president informed acknowledged that his information diet has narrowed since the first term.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The fire suppression efforts involve five engines, one water tender, two dozers and one hand crew.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In some Michigan counties, Medicaid covers more than half of all childbirths.—
Kristen Jordan Shamus,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Sarr struggles to finish shots through contact against heavier bigs.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Forced to become a bloodsucker as part of Bill's punishment for vanquishing another, Deborah Ann Woll's Jessica struggles with her new, flesh-craving lifestyle.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
These labors are generally absent from estate accounts, though often evident in diaries.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Sep. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
How Democrats fare in efforts to reclaim the governor's office could preview a national pattern and influence party strategies as the GOP strives to maintain control of the House and Senate while Democrats push for significant gains after a disappointing 2024.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Years after Air Force Combat Controller John Chapman fought to the death to save his fellow soldiers, an intelligence officer strives to prove his valor — leading an investigation that ultimately would secure him the Medal of Honor.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 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
-
Smart nutrition management all through the season always works better than trying to achieve stunning results with last minute fertilizer fixes.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Holding his hand helps calm him down (a magic touch that works well with real kids, too).—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Travails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/travails. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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