1
as in taxes
a charge usually of money collected by the government from people or businesses for public use
the shop at the airport charges no duty on tourist memorabilia
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in tasks
a piece of work that needs to be done regularly
the regular duties of a lifeguard
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in responsibilities
something one must do because of prior agreement
I must obey the call of duty and serve my country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of duties
The complaint asserts that Minneapolis and Saint Paul have been forced to divert officers from their usual duties to respond to incidents involving federal immigration enforcement, undermining local efforts to protect the community.
—
Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 13 Jan. 2026
Morgan identifies talent, while Tilis handles the finances and administrative duties.
—Mike Kaye
updated January 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 Jan. 2026
When Anderson Cooper and his co-host — Kathy Griffin or Andy Cooper — wrapped their hosting duties for the night, the spotlight would shift to Lemon, who usually held forth in a southern city and was less, ah, formal than his cable-news colleagues.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 13 Jan. 2026
Disruptive, Violent, or Aggressive Behavior Passengers can be removed from a flight for disruptive, violent, or aggressive behavior, making threats, or interfering with a crew member’s ability to perform their duties.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
Trump’s tariff saber-rattling may become less effective after this week if the Supreme Court—which is scheduled to release a new batch of decisions on cases heard in 2025 on Wednesday—announces an unfavorable ruling for the president’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) duties.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 13 Jan. 2026
Prior to the news of the upcoming album and tour, Jung Kook teased the timeline of BTS return after the group took a hiatus so members could fulfill their mandatory military duties and focus on solo projects.
—Anna Chan, Billboard, 13 Jan. 2026
Stellini took on the club’s post-match media duties after Conte was sent off for squaring up to the fourth official and protesting too vehemently against the decision to award the penalty from which Inter went 2-1 up.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
After 2024’s disastrous Golden Globes hosting performance by Jo Koy, the Golden Globe Foundation turned hosting duties over to Nikki Glaser this year based on her standout performance on The Roast of Tom Brady.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duties
Noun
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Initial roles will focus on low-risk tasks such as sorting, sequencing, and transporting parts along the production line.—
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Many gamers have reacted with disgust to game studios using AI for creative tasks, like coming up with promotional artwork or generating character voices.—
Noun
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By 2030, the company expects Atlas to take on more complex responsibilities, including repetitive and heavy-load assembly work.—
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Soldiers will serve in a support role, focused on protecting property, safeguarding critical infrastructure and allowing local law enforcement to remain focused on community safety and investigative responsibilities, according to a news release from the governor's office.—
Noun
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Police officers receive assignments and special instruction from higher ranking officers who also review the police officer’s work.—
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The board also took on their assignments to various other county boards.—
Noun
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But advocates argued that merely checking a box to satisfy an audit does not necessarily mean improvements in animal welfare, as evidenced by several troubling incidents that occurred last year, which is why advocates want greater transparency into how the city is fulfilling its obligations.—
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The commission also emphasized that Verizon’s stricter unlocking obligations never applied industry-wide.—
Noun
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That said, many of the gains players made here won’t dramatically affect their bottom lines, and the reality is that most players on ECHL deals will still need those second jobs and other sources of income to continue to chase their dream of making it to the next level.—
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Both Tong and his counterpart in Rhode Island, Attorney General Peter Neronha, followed up with their own request on Monday which reiterated the developers’ claim that federal intervention risks raising costs for electric customers while upending thousands of local jobs.—
Noun
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Southwestern President Mark Sanchez told the committee Tuesday that his school and its collaborators need to introduce an array of bachelor’s degree programs to help meet the needs of students and employers in South County, home to 500,000 people.—
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Depending on your space, heating needs, and comfort levels, a space heater can be an efficient heat source.—
Cite this Entry
“Duties.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duties. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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