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drudgery

Definition of drudgerynext

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun drudgery contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of drudgery are grind, labor, toil, travail, and work. While all these words mean "activity involving effort or exertion," drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor.

an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery

When might grind be a better fit than drudgery?

The synonyms grind and drudgery are sometimes interchangeable, but grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body.

the grind of the assembly line

When is it sensible to use labor instead of drudgery?

While the synonyms labor and drudgery are close in meaning, labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion.

farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor

Where would toil be a reasonable alternative to drudgery?

Although the words toil and drudgery have much in common, toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor.

his lot would be years of back-breaking toil

In what contexts can travail take the place of drudgery?

The words travail and drudgery can be used in similar contexts, but travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering.

years of travail were lost when the house burned

When would work be a good substitute for drudgery?

In some situations, the words work and drudgery are roughly equivalent. However, work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force.

too tired to do any work

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 drudgery Despite tech companies’ promises about the capabilities of generative AI, the technology has frequently fallen short of its promoters’ lofty ambitions to streamline drudgery and free up humans to do more creative, fulfilling work. Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025 Unlike the confrontational drudgery of couples therapy — and aiming to avoid the confrontational finality of divorce — this approach relies on subterfuge. Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025 While analysts have long complained about the drudgery, the rise of AI is now sparking concerns about their job security. Dave Smith, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025 The Arts and Crafts movement rebelled against factory drudgery and mass production. Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for drudgery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drudgery
Noun
  • The company says the system aims to tackle persistent challenges in the hospitality industry, including labor shortages, inconsistent drink quality, and long service times.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
  • What started as labor strikes and merchant protests over currency collapse and inflation has expanded into widespread street demonstrations and student protests.
    Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Her defensive effort led to a transition 3-pointer for Maddie Scherr that electrified the home crowd for TCU.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Jan. 2026
  • There is currently no information about the containment efforts for the fire and its cause has yet to be determined.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • His account reveals an author searching for his true self and finding it, amid unceasing toil, in the act of observation.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
  • The Premier League has brought toil.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Fulton County Reparations Task Force, a volunteer group in Georgia’s most populous county, recently submitted a 636-page report on the harms the municipality dealt through slavery and discrimination against Black residents.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 8 Jan. 2026
  • When Connecticut receives a report of human trafficking – or modern slavery – multiple agencies collaborate to determine the situation, rescue the victim and provide necessary services like housing, health care and mental health support, and prosecute the offender.
    Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The All Aligned Ribbed Long-sleeve Henley Dress is made from a soft, ribbed Nulu fabric that’s sweat-wicking, quick-drying, and equipped with plenty of stretch to keep you comfortable on the road and at home.
    Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Especially with two new blockers on the outside, as left tackle Jordan Seaton watched the game in sweats while wearing a walking boot on his right ankle.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Some of the routine tasks given to new hires are drudge work and not a learning experience.
    Justin Hotard, Fortune, 7 Dec. 2025
  • Offload drudge work and risky tasks so humans can focus on safer, more creative work.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But Vanderbilt, as attention, pressure and fatigue rise on a pursuit no one outside its camp expected, is essentially two teams with two games left in the 2025 regular season.
    Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Despite widespread fatigue over tipping prompts, Americans still tend to be generous when dining out at restaurants.
    Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • This model is new to Amazon this month and comes with 35 different grind settings and brewing method options for espresso, French press, and pour-overs.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Most people have experienced the maddening grind of trying to fix a billing mistake, appeal an insurance decision or schedule a medical appointment, only to be pulled into a maze of forms, portals and hold music.
    Nitin Ware, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Drudgery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drudgery. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on drudgery

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