work 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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work

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noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
Over the past 15 years, Pender has worked with various attorneys and, in a surprising twist, Larry Sells, the Marion County deputy prosecutor who fought to put her behind bars, to reduce her sentence. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Feb. 2026 Lupel began representing Dotson because of a personal connection, as Dotson’s mother had worked for a friend of Lupel. Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
Readers send Miss Manners not only their table and party questions, but those involving the more complicated aspects of life - romance, work, family relationships, child-rearing, death - as well as philosophical and moral dilemmas. Judith Martin, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026 Coker uses her British, Nigerian and Yoruba heritage as a key reference point in her work. Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 19 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • His death was ruled a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the torso.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Gravel pathways and a few unavoidable stairs here and there shouldn’t cause significant issues for travelers unreliant on walking aids.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Foster may have been a late addition to the roll-call of heroes who went on to deliver the first of three consecutive promotions under Hollywood ownership, having only come out of retirement in March 2023 to solve a goalkeeping crisis.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Genealogy investigations have had major success stories Successfully using the DNA of distant family members to profile and narrow down suspects had an extraordinarily high-profile debut in 2018, when it was used to solve the cold case of the Golden State Killer.
    Andy Rose, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • According to the European Avalanche Warning Services (EAWS), at least 99 people have died since October 2025, mostly in the Alps — the mountain range that serves as the continent’s skiing hub and sprawls across several countries including France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Alternatively, paddle or trek to Yau Ley Seafood Restaurant on Sai Kung, where the catch of the day is served with a side of authentic and family-friendly Hong Kong charm.
    Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • An analysis performed for The San Diego Union-Tribune found at least 25 idle oil wells close to sensitive locations around the county — 29 K-12 schools, 73 parks or recreation areas, 38 child care facilities, 19 residential care facilities for the elderly and 53 healthcare facilities.
    Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Will second baseman Josh Smith perform well enough for a full season to stave off competition?
    Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Molecular motion drives repair In earlier animal studies, a single injection 24 hours after severe injury enabled mice to regain the ability to walk within weeks.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Feb. 2026
  • The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management advised the public to secure loose outdoor items, watch for falling branches, and use caution while driving or walking.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • These transistors were then assembled into a fully working radio-frequency (RF) communication system operating between 12 and 18 gigahertz.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Currently, companies only have to pay $300 and show proof of insurance to become registered to operate, and they might not be audited until a year or more later.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Buehler struggled in Boston, but looked good enough during his brief time with the Phillies to generate interest from the Padres and other teams.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Fefferman questioned why board members and the public have struggled to obtain detailed financial information.
    Teresa Liu, Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Eco effort The hotel uses solar power and has complimentary electric vehicle charging stations, in addition to offering glass bottles of water and several water stations.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Officials are also trying to make sure that the electronic logging devices drivers use are accurate, and that states are following all the regulations to ensure drivers are qualified to get commercial licenses.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

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