Synonyms of works

works 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of work

1

as in causes

to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)

this new drug can really work wonders

Synonyms & Similar Words

• causes
• creates
• brings
• does
• generates
• prompts
• produces
• spawns
• yields
• invokes
• makes
• effects
• induces
• draws on
• brings about
• occasions
• translates (into)
• catalyzes
• brings on
• gives rise to
• brings forth
• begets
• results (in)
• engenders
• breeds
• effectuates
• encourages
• promotes
• introduces
• contributes (to)
• founds
• develops
• determines
• begins
• initiates
• launches
• establishes
• decides
• institutes
• starts
• fathers
• inaugurates
• sets up
• renders
• conduces (to)
• fosters
• cultivates
• enacts
• furthers
• turns out
• sets
• innovates
• nourishes
• advances
• pioneers
• nurtures
• forwards

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• limits
• restricts
• impedes
• controls
• suppresses
• checks
• inhibits
• represses
• reins (in)
• squashes
• crushes
• puts down
• arrests
• subdues
• dampens
• curbs
• smothers
• stifles
• restrains
• retards
• kills
• destroys
• cans
• stills
• quells
• squelches
• cracks down (on)
• clamps down (on)
• abolishes
• quashes
• extinguishes
• liquidates
• demolishes
• quenches
• snuffs (out)

2

as in solves

to find an answer for through reasoning

finally figured out how to work the math problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

• solves
• unravels
• answers
• resolves
• works out
• figures out
• riddles (out)
• puzzles (out)
• cracks
• concludes
• deciphers
• decides
• breaks
• unriddles
• gathers
• judges
• reasons
• infers
• deduces
• dopes (out)
• assumes
• presumes
• speculates
• straightens (out)
• guesses
• clears (up)
• unties
• irons out
• divines
• conjectures
• unscrambles
• decodes
• untangles

3

as in serves

to have a certain purpose

the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood

Synonyms & Similar Words

• serves
• acts
• functions
• performs
• operates
• runs
• guides
• manages
• controls
• handles
• regulates
• directs
• administers
• supervises
• oversees
• carries on

4

as in operates

to produce a desired effect

this headache remedy takes half an hour to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operates
• performs
• takes
• acts
• reacts
• responds
• results
• takes effect
• behaves
• affects
• takes hold
• influences
• sways
• redounds
• pans out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• backfires
• fizzles

5

as in moves

to set or keep in motion

this pump is worked by hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

• moves
• drives
• activates
• propels
• actuates
• stimulates
• impels
• triggers
• motivates
• provokes
• raises
• sets off
• ferments
• trips
• inspires
• incites
• stirs (up)
• whips (up)
• excites
• abets
• arouses
• fires (up)
• foments
• rouses
• galvanizes
• instigates
• inflames

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• contains
• controls
• regulates
• checks
• inhibits
• reins (in)
• constrains
• curbs
• restrains
• bridles

6

as in uses

to control the mechanical operation of

show me how to work the machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operates
• uses
• handles
• runs
• drives
• manipulates
• maneuvers
• controls
• wields
• guides
• directs
• steers
• pilots
• plies
• commands

7

as in struggles

to devote serious and sustained effort

the organization has worked for years to raise people's awareness of human rights issues

Synonyms & Similar Words

• struggles
• strives
• labors
• endeavors
• tries
• tugs
• slaves
• plows
• toils
• hustles
• digs (away)
• sweats
• pegs (away)
• plugs
• humps
• travails
• bangs away
• plods
• grubs
• sweats blood
• fags
• strains
• slogs
• drudges
• moils
• applies (oneself)
• exercises
• beavers (away)
• buckles (down)
• drives
• attacks
• exerts
• knuckles down
• hammers (away)
• pitches in
• essays
• digs in
• grinds (out)
• ekes out
• overworks
• scratches
• overexerts
• wades
• puts out
• trudges
• scrabbles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• breaks
• slackens
• eases (up)
• lets up
• hangs (around or out)
• slacks (off)
• rests
• idles
• plays
• shirks
• goofs (off)
• goldbricks
• loafs
• bums
• lounges
• lazes
• dallies
• chills
• reposes
• dillydallies
• hacks (around)
• unwinds
• relaxes
• hangs
• basks
• lolls
• dabbles
• footles
• fribbles
• fools around
• vegges out
• hangs about
• messes around
• doodles
• goofs (around)
• trifles
• putters (around)
• potters (around)
• monkeys (around)

8

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• uses
• exploits
• leverages
• abuses
• plays (on or upon)
• manipulates
• imposes (on or upon)
• walks on
• capitalizes (on)
• milks
• trades on
• cashes in (on)
• pimps
• mistreats
• cheats
• commodifies
• jerks around
• sticks
• overcharges
• commercializes
• soaks
• bleeds
• skins
• fleeces

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• factory
• mill
• plant
• shop
• workshop
• manufactory
• studio
• workplace
• sweatshop
• atelier
• workroom
• yard

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of works

Verb

Connor, meanwhile, reportedly works as a DJ and is based in Florida. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 31 July 2026

Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice is a nonprofit organization that works with congregations throughout Southern California to support workers’ rights. — ABC News, 31 July 2026

Credit as well to the staff members, who are honest about whether that shirt works for you or is best left on the rack. — New York Times, 31 July 2026

With an ergonomic design for upper and lower back issues, this support pillow works well in both the office and your car. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 31 July 2026

What The Medicare Drug Subsidy Was Doing The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 rewrote how Medicare Part D works. — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Soap and Water A simple mixture of soap and water also works for cleaning laminate, says Rapinchuk. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026

Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice is a nonprofit organization that works with congregations throughout Southern California to support workers' rights. — CBS News, 31 July 2026

Both approaches combine weather and climate data, physical understanding of how the climate system works, and computer models. — Deepti Singh, The Conversation, 24 July 2026

Noun

Below is an example of how the scoring works, based on the performances of the Marist teams during the 2025-26 school year. — Chip Saye, AJC.com, 30 July 2026

One of Nebel’s major works was still there — The Wrestlers, a huge plaster work of two sinewy men locked in combat, which had been his thesis as a student. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 July 2026

The brightly hued landscape is leading a sale of works from the family collection of Paul Durand-Ruel, the dealer considered most responsible helped establish Impressionism as a commercial and critical success. — Daniel Cassady For Artnews, Robb Report, 30 July 2026

How landscaping for cooling works The idea is straightforward. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026

Her works have been translated into over 25 languages and sold over 10 million copies worldwide. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 30 July 2026

Prior to studying film and directing short and experimental works, the German filmmaker trained in contemporary dance. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026

Passed down orally for centuries, these vakhs became some of the earliest and most influential works of Kashmiri literature and were cherished by both Hindu and Muslim communities. — Peter Dziedzic, The Conversation, 30 July 2026

The museum also exhibits works by contemporary Icelandic artists. — Carolyn Heller, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026