work 1 of 2

Definition of worknext
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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

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8

work

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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
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4
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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
The guys have been working really hard on it. Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 30 May 2026 To work around these limitations, epidemiologists in the field have turned to broader-spectrum diagnostic kits and alternative rapid assays, though shortages of testing supplies and the logistical difficulties of operating in remote outbreak regions continue to hamper response efforts. Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 May 2026
Noun
But in addition to the usual work and Pulse, Stephany’s team in the same time frame also performed an autopsy of Grimmie, 22, the singer who was shot to death June 10, 2016, by an obsessed fan during a post-concert meet-and-greet. Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 June 2026 Third, move up to 600 officers out of administrative roles and back into public-facing police work. Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • The majority of these strikes happen during the summer, causing around 20 fatalities each year, according to the NWS.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 12 June 2026
  • Debris from an Iranian drone interception injured an 11-year-old girl in Bahrain, in addition to causing damage to homes and vehicles, the country’s Interior Ministry said today.
    Sarah Dean, NBC news, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Addressing reporters for the first time since The Associated Press projected a November runoff between her and Mayor Karen Bass, Raman said residents are losing faith in the city’s ability to solve even basic problems and are demanding a different approach.
    Teresa Liu, Daily News, 11 June 2026
  • Ferveret, a startup from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is using cooling technology deployed in nuclear reactors to solve challenges faced by data centers today.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • For the last seven years, McNealy has served as the historic content expert for the Civil Rights Institute while also working as the department chair of history at Arthur Harold Parker High School and a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
    Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
  • Bradley's killer, Eugene McCollom, pleaded guilty years ago and is serving a life sentence.
    Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2026
Verb
  • Cook has performed at Darcelle’s since the 1990s and has spent 38 years in drag.
    Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
  • Trump has undergone four medical checkups in 13 months, prompting questions about the frequency of his visits, the types of tests being performed and what doctors are looking for.
    Zac Anderson, USA Today, 7 June 2026
Verb
  • Ties have cooled in recent years between the two sides – while Pyongyang drove closer to Moscow.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
  • Advocates have long criticized the conditions at the Aurora facility, and those complaints — alongside concerns that more facilities could open in the state — helped drive HB 1276’s contents.
    Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • Other violations throughout the years included creating another public nuisance in 2006 that generated more than 10 complaints and operating equipment contrary to its permit.
    Jason Henry, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
  • Each one would need to stock more interceptors and operate with escort ships to fend off attacks.
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • The Primm family, owners of the land that includes three casino resorts and other businesses along the 15 Freeway, announced Tuesday a partnership intended to save the struggling state-line strip and hundreds of jobs.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
  • Those home-and-away supporters know how much England struggled with the heat during a camp last summer.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • In the third, La Mirada used a single and two walks to load the bases with two outs but Escobar escaped when shortstop Angie Jimenez snagged a line drive.
    Dan Albano, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
  • Norrased, who did most of the communication with the villagers in Thai, taught them how to correctly use the mouthpiece for the oxygen tanks.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 30 May 2026

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.

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