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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in to labor
to devote serious and sustained effort
toiled for many years on the mammoth outdoor sculpture
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of toil
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
The kids likely worked the land just as hard and as often as their parents, earning bruises and calluses for their trouble, but willing to contribute to make the daily toil just a little bit easier for everyone.
—Sarah Rex, JSTOR Daily, 20 Aug. 2025
Senior Fellow, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Bulls are constantly toiling away at endeavors that speak to their artistry.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for toil
Noun
As a result, there is no palpable benefit from a technological revolution that was supposed to free Americans from toil and make their lives easier and better.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
The kids likely worked the land just as hard and as often as their parents, earning bruises and calluses for their trouble, but willing to contribute to make the daily toil just a little bit easier for everyone.
—Sarah Rex, JSTOR Daily, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
Many CEOs will have no choice but to devote their efforts to guessing, interpreting and trying to influence what the president wants, rather than toiling on behalf of their shareholders and customers.
—Senior Fellow, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Bulls are constantly toiling away at endeavors that speak to their artistry.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for toil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toil
Verb
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Chiefs players spent training camp laboring at hot, humid Missouri Western State University.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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During that season Clark was laboring to teach all his defensive linemen a new technique to use, and players would have to film themselves working on it, and send it into the coaches.—
Omar Kelly
August 23,
Miami Herald,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Traditional data lakes can store raw data at scale but lack quality controls, while warehouses enforce structure but struggle with unstructured or fast changing data.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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Almost half of those who abided by boundaries (45%) reported low burnout, compared to 6% of those who struggled to do so.—
Samantha Dewalt,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Chronic striving has its downsides, though.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
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When multiple businesses strive to outdo each other, the result is better products, improved services and more choices for consumers.—
Levi King,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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How do these different agencies work together?—
Kristen Edgreen Kaufman,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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The mixer's bowl boasts a distinctive walnut shade and wood grain pattern, and its food-safe seal means the bowl works hard (and looks good doing it).—
Ella Field,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Toil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toil. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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