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task

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verb

as in to entrust
to give a task, duty, or responsibility to I have been tasked by the host with bringing the pies for Thanksgiving this year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun task contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of task are assignment, chore, duty, job, and stint. While all these words mean "a piece of work to be done," task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance.

charged with a variety of tasks

When can assignment be used instead of task?

The words assignment and task can be used in similar contexts, but assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

a reporter's assignment

When might chore be a better fit than task?

While in some cases nearly identical to task, chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

every child was assigned chores

When would duty be a good substitute for task?

The meanings of duty and task largely overlap; however, duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

the duties of a lifeguard

Where would job be a reasonable alternative to task?

The synonyms job and task 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 task?

While the synonyms stint and task are close in meaning, stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

a 2-month stint as a reporter

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 task
Noun
That means stepping into real leadership: delegating, hiring, and letting go of low-value tasks that drain your time. Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025 The hardest task was animating Jar Jar during the dawn of mocap and computer graphics. Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
Deemed the underdog by Mr. Chicken (Clifton Murray of Painkiller Jane), a successful restaurant chain owner tasked with casting the deciding vote, Frank Jr. was controversially crowned the winner. Lynette Rice, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025 Crown Bees Honeybees, which are tasked with pollinating many of the agricultural crops in the United States, are dying off in record numbers. Martha Ann Overland, NPR, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for task
Recent Examples of Synonyms for task
Noun
  • Sure enough, in early 2024, PJ took a job as an avionics technician at Tinker.
    Jenni Carlson, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Neither party is doing a better job at reducing crime.
    Christopher S. Warshaw, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The name’s ironic on purpose—the app allows users to create, send, and receive anonymous voice messages in a celebrity’s tone.
    Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice.
    Dr. Ronald Premuroso, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • An insider suggests that these aren’t off the wall gambles but are all part of the plan, taking more familiar IP and genres and entrusting filmmakers to give it their own spin.
    Brian Welk, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2025
  • This shift toward autonomous AI agents marks a significant evolution beyond simple task automation, with leading organizations now entrusting AI systems to handle sophisticated workflows that require reasoning, planning, and adaptive decision-making across various business processes.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The administration, early Wednesday, levied a 104 percent import tax on the nation after China imposed a 34 percent reciprocal tariff on the U.S. following the president’s announcement of new duties last week.
    Tara Suter, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Our general view on stocks has not changed, even as President Donald Trump ’s cumulative 104% tariff rate on Chinese imports — plus elevated duties on other major trading partners — went into effect at midnight.
    Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Coach Scott Arniel likes to refer to him as a Swiss Army knife for his ability to play any role that the coaches ask of him.
    Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Rubio said the Europeans had a central role to play in any peace pact, especially as their Russia sanctions over which Washington has no control would likely need to be lifted to secure an accord.
    Bart H. Meijer and Gabriel Stargardter, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • James River Phillips, 20, was arrested Thursday by the FBI Cincinnati Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and charged with possession of an unregistered gun and possession of a destructive device.
    Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Keep your access fully charged for just $2.50 $1 per month for one year.
    Molly Taft, Wired News, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Fort Worth Star-Telegram Lillie Davidson is a general assignment reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a TCU student studying journalism (Go Frogs!).
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Among the ruins, the most important school assignment left is to live despite it all.
    Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Other tools can analyze code and generate detailed comments for functions, loops and classes.
    Ken Ringdahl, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Trump was assessed for cognitive function, depression and anxiety.
    Luke Garrett, NPR, 13 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Task.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/task. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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