1
as in headaches
a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work
one of the labors of Hercules in classical mythology was to clean out the stables of King Augeas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in efforts
the active use of energy in producing a result
a superhuman amount of labor must have gone into designing and building the pyramids of Egypt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in toils
very hard or unpleasant work
a political dissident forced to do six months of hard labor in the salt mines as punishment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in childbirths
the act or process of giving birth to children
the mother's labor lasted for six hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in products
something produced by physical or intellectual effort
a small, personal film that was clearly a labor of love for the director and actors
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in struggles
to devote serious and sustained effort
the young lawyer labored most of the weekend over the difficult legal brief
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of labors
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Residents need relief from high rates and the city itself labors under a hefty and ever-rising power bill, adding tens of millions to its deficit.
—Craig D. Rose, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026
In fact, to not do so would be robbing yourself of the fruits of your past labors.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Like the appeals made by women during the antiquity to midwife goddesses, prayer and supplication were ways to affirm intentions for healthy pregnancies, calm labors, and living children.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
In the second round, Sarah labors.
—Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
And while the fruits of those labors may not be realized until later in the winter or in the spring — when free agency and the draft finally arrive — the next few days are crucial for laying groundwork.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
Thousands of truck enthusiasts gathered to display their revving, roving labors of love at the annual Lone Star Throwdown in Conroe this weekend, one of the country’s largest custom truck shows.
—Maliya Ellis, Houston Chronicle, 21 Feb. 2026
The image, captured by photographer John Kraus, provided a novel view looking almost directly up and into the rocket's intense exhaust plume as it was shaped and backlit by the furious labors of the Merlin engines.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
Johnson is consistent in mirroring the release from his pedal and rarely labors when transitioning with route breaks.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Residents need relief from high rates and the city itself labors under a hefty and ever-rising power bill, adding tens of millions to its deficit.
—Craig D. Rose, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026
In fact, to not do so would be robbing yourself of the fruits of your past labors.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Like the appeals made by women during the antiquity to midwife goddesses, prayer and supplication were ways to affirm intentions for healthy pregnancies, calm labors, and living children.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
In the second round, Sarah labors.
—Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
And while the fruits of those labors may not be realized until later in the winter or in the spring — when free agency and the draft finally arrive — the next few days are crucial for laying groundwork.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
Thousands of truck enthusiasts gathered to display their revving, roving labors of love at the annual Lone Star Throwdown in Conroe this weekend, one of the country’s largest custom truck shows.
—Maliya Ellis, Houston Chronicle, 21 Feb. 2026
The image, captured by photographer John Kraus, provided a novel view looking almost directly up and into the rocket's intense exhaust plume as it was shaped and backlit by the furious labors of the Merlin engines.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for labors
Noun
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The real story behind one of Texas’ biggest wildlife headaches starts with a decision the state made on purpose.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Some journalists draw a line between the government's mounting headaches and its escalating attacks on the messengers of that news.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At the same time, the county is kickstarting public outreach efforts for the project, including monthly informational Zoom meetings and door-to-door outreach.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Twenty years later, Edward Threatt, whose father once ran a bar and restaurant next to the station, led his family’s efforts to restore the building, aided by grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and other organizations.—
Jonathan Bullington,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There has to be a chance that Jos Buttler’s toils in Sri Lanka and India represent his last ventures on the international stage, and therefore the end of an era.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Both were premised on the idea of frictionless ease, liberating their users from outmoded toils.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Many women may not be aware at all that private details of their childbirths were shared with law enforcement.—
Shoshana Walter,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
In some Michigan counties, Medicaid covers more than half of all childbirths.—
Kristen Jordan Shamus,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
All products featured on Bon Appétit are independently selected by our editors.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
-
All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors.—
Jamie Spain,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The risk is Sadiq doesn’t see a full workload as a rookie, struggles for targets while competing with Mitchell and others, and Geno Smith doesn’t bounce back.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Republicans have a tiny four-vote majority in the chamber, and the president’s party historically struggles in midterm balloting.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
When people are priced out of their neighborhoods, they are pushed farther away from their jobs, schools and support systems.—
Ryan von Weller,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
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Players are also connected with jobs via the team’s union.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The gallery would dedicate its third exhibition to Smith, presenting two monumental works by the artist made in the mid-1960s and early ’70s.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Those are real-life examples of recent scams plaguing the publishing industry that target authors’ wallets and original works.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Labors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/labors. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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