toil 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈtȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce toil (audio)
Definition of toilnext
as in labor
very hard or unpleasant work after years of toil in a sweatshop, Kim was finally able to start her own dressmaking business

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

toil

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in tangle
usually toils plural something that catches and holds a married woman hopelessly caught in the toils of an extramarital affair

Synonyms & Similar Words

toil

3 of 3

verb

as in to labor
to devote serious and sustained effort toiled for many years on the mammoth outdoor sculpture

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun toil contrast with its synonyms?

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

his lot would be years of back-breaking toil

When would drudgery be a good substitute for toil?

Although the words drudgery and toil have much in common, drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor.

an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery

When might grind be a better fit than toil?

The words grind and toil can be used in similar contexts, but grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body.

the grind of the assembly line

Where would labor be a reasonable alternative to toil?

The words labor and toil 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 could travail be used to replace toil?

While the synonyms travail and toil are close in meaning, travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering.

years of travail were lost when the house burned

When is it sensible to use work instead of toil?

The meanings of work and toil largely overlap; 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 toil
Noun
Too much mainstream music now sees itself as a refuge from real-world toils. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2025 On a mission to eradicate the toil and gamble of online reviews, FeedMe acts as a ‘flavor GPS,’ guiding users directly to dishes that match their taste, dietary requirements, and location. — Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
When these exploits appear, the app’s designers toil to create a security patch. — PCMAG, 24 Feb. 2025 On the same evening, Liverpool toiled their way to a 2-2 draw versus Aston Villa and could find themselves only five points ahead of second-place Arsenal in the league standings come Sunday afternoon. — Julia Ranney, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for toil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toil
  1. labor
  2. struggle
  3. strive
  4. work
Verb
  • Patterson had labored on the project for years, enlarging it at one point into a seven episode mini-series, before shrinking it back down again.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Also headed to Vijayawada was a group of laboring youths from Khagaria, in Bihar.
    — Amitava Kumar, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of labor
Verb
  • Still, with fewer employees, the department may struggle to meet the demands of a growing number of applicants.
    — Scott White, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • England have struggled at the latter position in recent years, and with Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall out injured until next season, Spence could be Tuchel’s best option there already.
    — Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of struggle
Verb
  • Kyiv has been striving to prove its readiness for peace while stressing that no deal can succeed without American security guarantees to deter repeat Russian aggression.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 12 Mar. 2025
  • As artificial intelligence significantly impacts industries, business leaders strive to adopt this technology immediately to remain competitive.
    — Alexandr Khomich, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of strive
Verb
  • For this to work, run a hot shower in a small bathroom for 15-20 minutes, keeping the door shut and the fan off.
    — Emily Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Meghan wrote to Hirsh in her signature calligraphy, showing off the skill she's honed since working as a calligrapher while an auditioning actor.
    — Janine Henni, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of work

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Cite this Entry

“Toil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toil. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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