DUTY Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

duty

noun

ˈdü-tē

as in tax

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

as in task

a piece of work that needs to be done regularly the regular duties of a lifeguard

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in obligation

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun duty contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of duty are assignment, chore, job, stint, and task. While all these words mean "a piece of work to be done," duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

the duties of a lifeguard

When is it sensible to use assignment instead of duty?

In some situations, the words assignment and duty are roughly equivalent. However, assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

a reporter's assignment

Where would chore be a reasonable alternative to duty?

The words chore and duty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

every child was assigned chores

When could job be used to replace duty?

The synonyms job and duty are sometimes interchangeable, but job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance.

the job of turning the company around

In what contexts can stint take the place of duty?

The meanings of stint and duty largely overlap; however, stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

a 2-month stint as a reporter

When can task be used instead of duty?

Although the words task and duty have much in common, task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance.

charged with a variety of tasks

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 duty At this point, the agency is said to be actively reassessing its duty rosters to call new recruits back for additional training. —

Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 15 Jan. 2026 Alliance to hire off-duty police The Safe Neighborhood Alliance is collecting money to pay off-duty police officers to patrol the neighborhoods in the alliance. —

Samuel O'Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Jan. 2026 Since the Online Safety Act’s duties took effect less than a year ago, Ofcom has launched investigations into more than 90 platforms and issued six fines for non-compliance. —

Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Jan. 2026 Workers who opposed the harassment allegedly faced retaliation, including terminations, changes in job duties and transfers, the lawsuit said. —

Andrea Guzmán, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for duty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for duty

Noun

Because a tax bill may be sent to a business office or other location different from the property being transferred, some of the addresses listed may differ from the property that was transferred.

— Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Jan. 2026
Reverse tax cuts enacted in the 2025 legislative session?

— Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026