WORKS Synonyms: 310 Similar and Opposite Words

works 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of work

as in causes

to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) this new drug can really work wonders

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in solves

to find an answer for through reasoning finally figured out how to work the math problem

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as in serves

to have a certain purpose the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood

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as in operates

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in moves

to set or keep in motion this pump is worked by hand

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in uses

to control the mechanical operation of show me how to work the machine

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as in struggles

to devote serious and sustained effort the organization has worked for years to raise people's awareness of human rights issues

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in exploits

to take unfair advantage of a young boy who worked his aunt for all she was worth in toys and candy when she visited once a year

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works

2 of 2

noun

plural of work

as in factory

a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods a glass works where high quality glassware is made

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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 works

Verb

The measure works largely by imposing deadlines on state agencies and courts to issue decisions quickly. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026 Russia's Federal Security Service said the man, who works for the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper, was suspected of gathering information about Russia's defense capability on behalf of a Japanese intelligence agency. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 This also works well, though the sound is quite different without the soundbar in the mix. — Christian De Looper, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026 Designed to firm up crepey skin, smooth out fine lines, and hydrate, the formula works its magic on the neck, jawline, and décolleté. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026 With a backbone laid out, the process next moved to ProteinMPNN, a tool that works along the backbone, populating it with specific amino acids. — ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026 Though Calvin’s children and sister Ruth (Willow Kean), who works as Snook’s Arms Harbor Master, realize there are very few resources left to hold on to, Calvin digs in his heels, determined to find a way forward. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 But the setup only works with regular, honest conversations about who pays for what. — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026 Rather than trying to predict future tax law changes, the firm works within the current code. — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026

Noun

Keynesianism gets a brain freeze John Maynard Keynes is basically the father of macroeconomics, the study of how the entire economy works, including what the government can do to fight recessions, boost employment, and control inflation. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026 Several works confront the digital systems shaping contemporary life, subverting algorithms and finding room for human error and agency. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026 Other works invite audiences into interactive open worlds, adapting game and world-building technologies to create participatory experiences that radically depart from everyday reality. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026 None of this works without trust in the data underneath it, and infrastructure and utility construction is where trust is tested hardest. — Ronald Bisio, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026 But the investigation took an unexpected turn on October 3, when officers observed the younger suspect visiting the Fondation Maeght, a major modern art institution whose collection includes works by Joan Miró, Alberto Giacometti, and Marc Chagall. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 The Swiss watchmaker and the Met marked the culmination of their inaugural artisan residency on Friday, unveiling three works that extend traditional craft into new forms of expression. — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 Spanning five decades, the Palm Springs exhibition presents Albuquerque’s multimedia practice through paintings, sculpture, installations and films, including contemporary iterations of earlier works. — Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 To work at the speed at which Aaron’s brain works is not normal for most people. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for works

Verb

An April report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracked nearly 17,000 Shigella samples, which causes Shigellosis, which and can bring on diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps, collected between 2011 and 2023.

— Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Plus, an infected deer tick must keep its harpoon-like feeding tube in the bloodstream for 36 to 48 hours to transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

— Bob Drogin, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of causes

Verb

Piping it straight to nearby buildings works beautifully in February, but solves nothing in July.

— Moones Alamooti, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026
Today’s Theme Everyone solves crosswords differently, and there’s no specific order you’re meant to solve in; do what works best for you.

— Sam Corbin, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of solves

Verb

According to Ibrahim, the market primarily serves Arab, Middle Eastern, Indian and Asian customers, though American shoppers have increasingly discovered the shop as well.

— Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026
Run by the art world’s favorite chef Mina Stone, the café serves an all-day menu of hearty salads, flavorful soups, Greek mezze and fancy toast.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of serves

Verb

The service Gracious and genial, the staff operates on a high level.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
Systemwide, American operates more than 6,000 daily flights to over 350 destinations across 60+ countries, serving more than 200 million customers annually.

— Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of operates

Verb

Such plaudits raise the question of how Movistar Plus moves forward from here.

— John Hopewell, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
The mountains east to Hickory could see an average 3 or 4 inches of rain before the system moves from the region by Sunday afternoon, NWS meteorologist Chris Horne told The Charlotte Observer.

— Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of moves

Verb

Jerry Turner, founder of the nonprofit Jahri's World, uses music, movement and dance to connect with children, including those with disabilities, while bringing families together.

— Kayla Moeller, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
The fix can be effective for some tasks, analysts say, but uses significantly more electricity.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of uses

Verb

In bonds, France’s problem is America’s problem A lot of eyes are on the French bond market right now as Paris struggles to deal with its national debt.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
Today, Los Angeles struggles as productions flee to places including New Jersey, Georgia, London and Albuquerque, which are taking their turns as urban shape-shifters.

— Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of struggles

Verb

Russia exploits Ukraine’s air defense gaps Nationwide, the Russian attacks killed seven Ukrainian civilians and wounded 24, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, without providing details.

— Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
BlueMoon exploits two Chromium vulnerabilities and one in the kernel of Windows 10 (Oct 2018 Update), Windows Server 2019, Windows 10 2004, Windows Server 2022, and the initial release of Windows 11.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of exploits

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workrooms

works

works (at)

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Style

“Works.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/works. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of works

verb

noun

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