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

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

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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
First was a Drug Enforcement Administration badge and ID with Horsch’s photo on it, but the ID was fake, and Horsch has never worked for the DEA, according to court documents. Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 1 July 2026 Brooks Raley pitched the seventh, Luke Weaver worked the eighth and Devin Williams finished for his 12th save in 13 chances. Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Noun
This shift invites us to share work, ideas, and talents more openly while choosing playful risks that still respect real-world limits. Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2026 Organizations that successfully implement flexible work models are often the ones willing to rethink how work gets done. Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • The announcement came just hours after the Supreme Court handed a major victory to the makers of the weedkiller Roundup, shielding it from thousands of lawsuits from states alleging the company failed to warn people the product could cause cancer.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
  • Any worries about complacency were wiped away in the third minute when Auston Trusty fired home the opening goal and caused the stands at SoFi Stadium to shake (literally) with the noise and jumping fans.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Reopening the strait – which was fully open before the war – won’t immediately solve either of those problems.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • And even that reduction won’t be enough to solve the problem for the long term.
    Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Greg Chavarria resigned in 2024, then Susan Grant served almost a year as acting city manager.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
  • Yybyyb Square-Toe Glove Ballet Flats Before heading to checkout, be sure to consider these glove flats that’ll serve as a conversation-starter and compliment-magnet in your closet.
    Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • The superstar performed at Inglewood’s Kia Forum on Monday, as well as last night, on her Lux Tour.
    Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026
  • Sources told Rolling Stone that Stevie Nicks, a longtime friend of Swift, will be present at the ceremony — and another said that the singer-songwriter would perform on the special day.
    Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • The abnormal heat has been driven by the onset of El Niño, a natural climate pattern characterized by unusually warm waters along the equatorial tropical Pacific Ocean.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • Congestion is difficult to predict, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, when driving behavior shifted and peak traffic hours spread out instead of sticking to the more uniform 9-to-5 workday.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Air Sprint, founded in 2000, operates a fleet of 44 jets for over 600 fractional owners and ranks eighth among North American operators by flight hours.
    Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • Another pilot flying into Newark on a United Express flight operated by GoJet Airlines also reported seeing a drone at roughly 2,000 feet, according to ATC audio from around the same time.
    Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • Amid the mutiny in the House, Johnson canceled unrelated votes, struggling to get enough support to move the legislation.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • The Pirates posted a six-run fifth inning against struggling starter Aaron Nola (3-5).
    CBS News, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Alysa Guffey Currently, data centers use industrial zoning and ask for exemptions to use the site for data centers.
    Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
  • In court documents, O’Hara alleged the defendants violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights, accusing them of unlawfully restricting free speech and initiating an unlawful seizure while using excessive force.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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