work 1 of 2

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
The Trump Administration continues to work closely with State and Local Leaders. Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025 This keeps living spaces cooler and saves money, CEO of Green Doors Joseph Holman told the outlet, as air conditioning units don't have to work as hard to keep spaces chilled. Greta Cross, USA Today, 6 July 2025
Noun
There is a lot of work ahead for Haliburton on his road to recovery. Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025 Summer Fridays are officially a thing of the past due the prevalence of remote work. Brit Morse, Fortune, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • For example, particulate matter 2.5, or PM2.5—which has a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less—can cause respiratory and heart problems.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2025
  • Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT Updated July 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • But whereas some closers wouldn’t waste time trying to solve that problem, Díaz has worked hard on being quicker home.
    Tim Britton, New York Times, 7 July 2025
  • That’s the demand problem that PJM is focused on, which is not Maryland’s problem to solve.
    David S. Lapp, Baltimore Sun, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • For help on those fronts, some retailers choose to work with existing coffee brands like Verve Coffee, Capital One’s coffee partner of choice; La Colombe, which is served at Ralph’s; and Allpress, which has worked with Carhartt and Patagonia to help ensure product quality.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 5 July 2025
  • De La Nonna's Big Bear outpost serves much of the same fare that its DTLA location does, with its toothsome focaccia-style pizzas on offer.
    Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • The military branch is slated to perform its first-ever refueling of a U.S. military asset in orbit as early as next summer.
    Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 10 July 2025
  • Someone performs well, takes on more, delivers again.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • Preventing the spread of marijuana laced with chemicals is one of the driving factors behind Tyson's push for federal reform.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
  • Official data from April show that the number of Canadians driving across the border had dropped 35 percent from the previous year.
    Stephen Marche, The Atlantic, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • These competitors often operate with striking similarity to your brand—similar names, logos, menu items or service offerings—while remaining technically compliant with local intellectual property laws.
    Mohaimina Haque, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • Everything from weather satellites to GPS satellites to telecommunications to nuclear missiles and other weapons of war rely on precise timing to operate properly.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • But almost six months into his second mandate, his administration has struggled to keep the cost of the staple down.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
  • But some producers are already struggling thanks to other Trump administration moves and delays.
    Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Large picture windows, used throughout the house, let in plenty of natural light while framing the beautiful sights of the surrounding countryside.
    James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2025
  • Top management knew best and issued directives to the rest of the organization, using steep chains of command to ensure order.
    Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on work

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!