Definition of worknext
1
2
3
as in to serve
to have a certain purpose the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in to perform
to produce a desired effect this headache remedy takes half an hour to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
6
as in to operate
to control the mechanical operation of show me how to work the machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

7
8

work

2 of 2

noun

1
as in composition
a literary, musical, or artistic production unfortunately, many of her works are now out of print

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
4
5
6
as in factory
works plural a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods a glass works where high quality glassware is made

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun work contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of work are drudgery, grind, labor, toil, and travail. While all these words mean "activity involving effort or exertion," work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force.

too tired to do any work

In what contexts can drudgery take the place of work?

The meanings of drudgery and work largely overlap; however, drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor.

an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery

When might grind be a better fit than work?

The synonyms grind and work are sometimes interchangeable, but grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body.

the grind of the assembly line

When could labor be used to replace work?

The words labor and work are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion.

farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor

When is toil a more appropriate choice than work?

The words toil and work can be used in similar contexts, but toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor.

his lot would be years of back-breaking toil

When is it sensible to use travail instead of work?

Although the words travail and work have much in common, travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering.

years of travail were lost when the house burned

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 work
Verb
This disparity persists even when both partners work full-time or when women earn more as primary breadwinners. Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026 The company said its background includes nuclear licensing and work alongside independent regulators. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
The group may have to stop their work by September due to sharp cutbacks in donations. ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 Her work has appeared in Hippocampus Magazine, The Rumpus, SELF, Women's Health, Men's Journal, Real Simple and others. Big Think, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • The jury determined that Meta and YouTube were negligent in the design or operation of their respective platforms, and that the negligence was a substantial factor in causing harm to the plaintiff.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • He was booked into Ventura County Jail for driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury, according to CHP's release.
    Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Still, the investigation into his murder had seemed to grow so cold that even many close to the events of that night believed the case would never be solved, much less prosecuted.
    Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • While there is no solid evidence that psychics can solve crimes, some law enforcement agencies use them when traditional leads run dry.
    Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The rapper, born Kentrell Gaulden, was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison with credit for time served dating back to at least May 2024.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Earlier this week, the EFL confirmed it had been served with legal proceedings by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) over changes enacted in League One, with the PFA citing insufficient consultation on the rule amendments.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The Republican nominee also said the work agreements that allow many state employees to perform their jobs remotely need reform as well.
    Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Ogbonnaya, who performs under his first name, will be on the bill; so will No-Fi RPM, a live-mixing series that Curran and Farlee run with collaborators Estevan Medina, Dillon Kelley and Patrick Mitchell.
    Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Recordings of Rajab’s call with paramedics gained international attention, driving calls for accountability for her killing and that of thousands of other children in Gaza.
    Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index, also released Friday, showed greater pessimism about the economy this month, likely driven by stubbornly high prices.
    CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • This strategic partnership with Miral involves Disney licensing its IP and providing oversight, while Miral funds, builds, and operates the park, paying royalties.
    Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Inspectors now have less of a presence in the orchards, which are located in isolated hills where armed groups operate with little interference, and concentrate on packing plants.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • According to the court document, the fraud scheme started with recruiting young women who were homeless or struggling with addiction, housing or finances.
    Adam Duxter, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Even as Brandon Marsh struggled against lefties, he was allowed to hit against tough relievers late in games.
    Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The Triglav Lodge, Slovenia’s highest-altitude guest hut at an elevation of 2,515 meters (8,251 feet), is using paper plates this summer to save water on dishes.
    ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine has been relatively successful at intercepting the massive numbers of drones that Russia uses in its large-scale attacks.
    Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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