toils 1 of 2

plural of toil
as in tangle
something that catches and holds a married woman hopelessly caught in the toils of an extramarital affair

Synonyms & Similar Words

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toils

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of toil

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 toils
Noun
This has been a turbulent window for Villa, not only against the backdrop of such challenges but also the toils involved in moving current players on. Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toils
Noun
  • Expect flocks of vibrant flamingos and tiny flitting hummingbirds spreading their wings over the turquoise waters and tangles of mangroves that unfold across lagoons that stretch parallel to the sea.
    Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The Rise Of The Two Philosophies For years, the default approach to multicloud networking was a chaotic, do-it-yourself affair, leading to a fragile, unmanageable tangle of siloed configurations.
    Serge Lucio, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In 2016, when Bad Bunny first emerged, he was identified with a style known as Latin trap, a woozy and thudding hybrid that owes something to American hip-hop.
    Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2025
  • There’s one more Medicare trap to consider that applies regardless of your election for Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage.
    Steve Vernon, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In recent decades, as China has laid down vast networks of high-speed rail and thrown up shimmering cities, Americans have developed a deepening sense that their own country struggles to get things done.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
  • He was sacked six times by a team that struggles to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
    Steve Silverman, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Constantly Catching Molecules The Integrated Carbon Observation System, or ICOS, is a web of nearly 180 measurement stations scattered across 16 European countries.
    Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Those icons can actually be used in a lot of places throughout macOS (and iOS), including on Safari's new tab page, on the dock or Home screen (for web apps), and in Safari's tabs.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Despite the glitz and glam of her showbiz career, Sweeney strives to keep her feet on the ground amid her growing It Girl status.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • An assertive Iran has been especially a thorn in the side of Saudi Arabia, which strives to be the dominant Muslim majority power in the region.
    David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Since 1972, The Marine Mammal Protection Act has served as a buffer against this cacophony, giving regulators tools to limit harm and protect species from deadly entanglements, vessel strikes, and industrial noise.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
  • From the randomest hookup to the most heavily layered entanglement.
    James Parker, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Technology works, but scaling it to a level that meaningfully impacts global emissions is an entirely different challenge.
    Peter Bendor-Samuel, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Otherwise, the oil works as a specialized scalp treatment, too, or to provide nourishment during protective styling.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Daugherty put the snare around the animal.
    Saleen Martin, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • As the gator wore down Blake got a snare around it and worked it toward their boat.
    Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Toils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toils. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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