Definition of worknext
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
Her son, JaJuan, 19, and daughter, Alexus, 29, work beside her. Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026 Those who knew Granger remember her as a champion of Fort Worth and a hard-working, no-nonsense, consensus builder in Washington who wasn’t afraid to work across the aisle. Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
The space’s most recent exhibition, of works connected to site-specific projects by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, closed on July 18. News Desk, Artforum, 3 Aug. 2026 Chiron turns retrograde in your 10th House of Career, stirring old sensitivity around criticism, authority, reputation, or whether your work is being seen clearly. Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • Seth went for the shot, but Roman hit an uppercut, causing Seth to drop the chair.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The vast majority of the hundreds of wildfires the country has each year are caused by negligence.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Someone can produce a great deal of visible output while solving the wrong problem.
    Nirit Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Acting on a risk assessment before that risk has materialized requires political willpower; just having better data, or even better analyses, doesn’t wholly solve that problem.
    Karryl Kim Sagun Trajano, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Mellencamp was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, and Thursday’s performance served as a reminder why.
    Jamie Graziano, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026
  • Rather, each pair should serve a distinct purpose instead of duplicating another one already hanging in the closet.
    Alesandra Dubin, Glamour, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • For many participants, Saturday marks their first opportunity to perform in front of a large audience alongside nationally touring artists.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
  • Data from the Learning Policy Institute shows students who perform poorly in math in middle school rarely suddenly improve in high school, since foundational understanding of mathematics is built in lower level middle school courses.
    Samuel O’Neal July 31, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • Other experts say that unless Japan addresses the structural forces driving the weakness in yen, the intervention's effects are likely to be short-lived.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Both have driven over 20B minutes of viewership on streaming platforms from January through June.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Buttery defended that decision, saying an employee operating a cruiser or unmarked car has no expectation of privacy.
    Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The best premium economy cabins are usually found on long-haul aircraft that operate lengthy international routes.
    Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • On the other hand, if a teenager is struggling and isn’t involved in any activities, encourage them to explore their interests as a way of making those initial connections.
    Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • New telescopes in the $50 range are usually tiny 50- to 70-millimeter refractors that struggle with faint objects.
    Damian Peach, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • There’s often debate about whether AI is used by employers to increase productivity among its workforce or cut wage costs, according to Brian Justie, a senior research analyst with the UCLA Labor Center.
    Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026
  • Investigators said Summers was using his phone extensively before the crash, driving 73-75 mph, and tested positive for cocaine and opiates.
    Chadd Cripe. Produced with AI assistance, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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