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
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
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
-
The polarising billionaire had spent only a few hours in prison upon his return from 15 years of self-exile in August 2023 before he was hospitalised after complaining of heart trouble and chest pains, prompting widespread scepticism and public outrage.—
Panarat Thepgumpanat,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
-
And the Zoned Lumbar Support offers focused support for your lower back, ensuring proper spinal alignment and reducing pressure on your lumbar region, helping to alleviate aches and pains.—
Sherrie Nachman,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Despite my best efforts to neatly square away all of my things inside my carry-on bag or checked luggage, my suitcase eventually ends up looking like a scene out of Twisters.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Schneider said any crackdowns on potential violators are more likely to be aimed at organized efforts to circumvent consumer protection laws, rather than go after every individual who may skirt regulations.—
Arpan Lobo,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In some Michigan counties, Medicaid covers more than half of all childbirths.—
Kristen Jordan Shamus,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But if a team struggles to run the ball or pass the ball, the head coach is left to praise… the kicking game.—
Howard Megdal,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Ansari’s main idea was to show the gig economy, and those stuck on the lower end of the economic scale’s struggles just to say alive.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Part of what gives AI 2027 its weight is the charts and numbers running along the right side of the web page displaying the fruit of the authors’ labors.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 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
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The brand strives to offer a premium denim look at prices more accessible than other premium denim brands.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
4 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 13 Sep. 2025.
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