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Definition of worknext
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as in to serve
to have a certain purpose the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to perform
to produce a desired effect this headache remedy takes half an hour to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in to operate
to control the mechanical operation of show me how to work the machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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work

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noun

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as in composition
a literary, musical, or artistic production unfortunately, many of her works are now out of print

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
Additionally, more than 600,000 federal workers have been furloughed, and upward of 700,000 have kept working without pay. Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025 Broder worked for me the same way a zookeeper works for the monkeys. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
The Capitol Region Development Authority is scheduled to put out bid requests this month for site preparation at the former Showcase Cinemas property, and Krohn expects that work will begin within 90 days of a contractor being selected. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2026 Watch when your raggedy TV works, anyway. Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 6 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • Be sure to rinse the gasket well to prevent the vinegar from drying out the rubber and causing cracks.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Its main purpose is to act as a sealant to keep water from getting behind the tiles to cause mold or mildew to develop in the wall.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • For example, in ecological matters, the only way to solve the problem is to continue advancing technologically.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • But the show’s primary perspective also seems to be that Kingstown’s problems are so impossible to solve that only someone like Mike — with no official affiliation — can mitigate against the worst possible outcome.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • As well as being used for entertainment events, the Brisbane venue will serve as a new home for the city’s Australian rules football team, the Brisbane Lions, as well as two cricket teams.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The lawsuit further alleges she was served alcohol despite being underage.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Although his unit did not perform particularly well in 2026, ranking 22nd in total defense, 24th in points against and 17th on third down, anyone that has interacted with Weaver knows that his presence screams head coach.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Just thinking about having this film play in the same place where one of his idols, Elvis Presley performed, was thrilling.
    Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • As previously reported by Fox News Digital, the unrest has been driven by a mix of economic desperation and political anger.
    Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
  • While there are some other small new concessions in the CBA that will help players make ends meet (such as getting access to health benefits in the offseason), to hear ECHLers explain their strike vote, the pay bump was never the driving force.
    James Mirtle, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Wirtz would be the most likely candidate to partner Szoboszlai in the No 10 positions, with Ekitike or Gakpo operating from the left.
    Andy Jones, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • But their fragile coexistence collapsed once the Red Command, blocked from Bolivia, turned to Peru and built a cocaine trade that operates almost entirely within Brazil.
    Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • His strength on defense was particularly impressive for a freshman, as TCU big men Xavier Edmonds and David Punch struggled to create good looks inside the lane thanks in large part to the defense of Peat.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Players throughout the Heat’s rotation struggled to make shots.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Privacy and partners Lenovo built Qira using a hybrid AI architecture.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Soft, spreadable butter that can be used instantly on toast and biscuits, or in baking recipes for cookies, cakes, and more.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on work

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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