toil 1 of 3

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

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
The story of a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon and Hollywood producer who teamed up to sell a neck lift invention after 16 years of toil. Shikhar Sachdev, thehustle.co, 21 Feb. 2025 Expect that humankind will finally be relieved of the woeful chore of everyday toil and be freer to be imaginative and creative. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
Verb
North Korean laborers are toiling on Chinese tuna boats for years at a time, while their salaries go to the North Korean government. David Leonhardt, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025 When these exploits appear, the app’s designers toil to create a security patch. PCMAG, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for toil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toil
Verb
  • Other artists have spent decades laboring over their magnum opuses—Michael Heizer and James Turrell, with their sprawling land projects in the American West (City and Roden Crater, respectively), spring to mind—but few, if any, have worked only on those pieces.
    Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Workers are laboring in 95 degree heat, surrounded by toxic soil.
    Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • During that time, Dave was struggling with his problems.
    Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Of course, Maddie isn’t the only one struggling this week.
    Andy Swift, TVLine, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • At its essence, Zion Lodge strives to provide travelers with a space to relax.
    Sophie Mendel, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Instead, strive to make choices that feel authentic and align with your values.
    Scott Mautz, Contributor, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Toil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toil. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on toil

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