drudge

1 of 2

verb

drudged; drudging

intransitive verb

: to do hard, menial, or monotonous work

transitive verb

: to force to do hard, menial, or monotonous work
drudger noun

drudge

2 of 2

noun

1
: one who is obliged to do menial work
2
: one whose work is routine and boring
3
: menial or tedious labor

Examples of drudge in a Sentence

Verb factory workers who must drudge all day at repetitive tasks Noun She was tired of working as an office drudge. worked like a drudge at a low-paying job that had few benefits
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
After months of drudging through renovations, the Tiki Taco team will soon enjoy the (jack)fruits of its labor. Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2024 Aren’t those who drudge away at them anything but harmless? David Harsanyi, National Review, 8 June 2023
Noun
Freed from drudge work, these workers should be empowered to focus on more creative tasks and problem-solving. Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 7 Aug. 2024 Finally, give the drone scouts the drudge work, such as tediously scouring a large area. Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 9 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for drudge 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English druggen

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of drudge was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near drudge

Cite this Entry

“Drudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drudge. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

drudge

1 of 2 verb
drudged; drudging
: to do hard or dull work
drudger noun

drudge

2 of 2 noun
: a person who drudges

More from Merriam-Webster on drudge

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!