MOIL Synonyms: 226 Similar and Opposite Words

moil 1 of 2

noun

Definition of moil

as in commotion

a state of noisy, confused activity went for a retreat at the monastery for a temporary respite from the moil of the modern world

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in labor

very hard or unpleasant work fed up with the moil and moneygrubbing of Wall Street, he decided to open a bed-and-breakfast in Vermont

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

moil

2 of 2

verb

ˈmȯi(-ə)l

as in to labor

to devote serious and sustained effort miners moiling all day in the sunless recesses of the earth

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to swirl

to be in a state of violent rolling motion the angry mob moiled around the courthouse

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 moil

Noun

Through a stranger’s eyes, though, the UBA’s moil of laws and lore is a clear symptom of mental illness. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026 The delight of online life gave way to its moil, and the pleasure of online services has been eroded by their many downsides, from compulsion to autocracy. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2020

Verb

There are strange things done in the midnight sun, by the men who moil for gold. — Literary Hub, 17 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for moil

Noun

In the commotion, she was briefly separated from her 85-year-old mother, who lives with her.

— Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
That allowed passengers to hear the commotion and discover what was happening.

— Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of commotion

Noun

So regenerative has to regenerate livelihoods and communities too, including decent work and supporting the women who do much of the labor in cotton in many contexts.

— SJ Studio, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
This comes as the league prepares for a labor fight in which financial inequality is a central top of debate.

— Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of labor

Verb

Miller's attempt to recast the conversation about his divorce echoed efforts by other candidates who are struggling to overcome concerns about their character.

— Lara Korte The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
But more than 40 countries currently struggling with financing and liquidity challenges do not have debt stocks that require imminent restructuring.

— Masood Ahmed, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of struggle

Verb

Despite the fact that the brand was receiving better reviews and creating more buzz recently, speculation had been swirling for months that Leoni’s contract may not be renewed.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Questions continue to swirl, even as a second phase of the anti-fraud effort is underway.

— Julie Appleby, NPR, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of swirl

Noun

And in an unrelated incident on the morning of June 9, 2026, Jackson was arrested after Los Angeles police responded to a domestic disturbance call at his West Hills home late the previous night.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Jacobs was arrested May 26, three days after police officers came to his Wisconsin home to investigate a disturbance.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturbance

Noun

The president talked up Jackson and Senate candidate Mike Collins as part of the White House effort to boost GOP enthusiasm in the upcoming elections.

— DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Rowling has been staunchly critical of transgender rights activists, funding legal efforts to protect women’s rights and penning X/Twitter posts that are considered to be attacks by the trans community.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of effort

Verb

Local government and outside groups have long strived to ban the popular tourist attraction that critics argue is harmful to horses’ well-being.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
Stores plan to be thriving Hispanic community hubs Amor Collective will strive to be an event space beyond just meetings and workshops.

— Terry Tang, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of strive

Verb

Multiple temperature records have been shattered, and an intense marine heat wave has been churning since last December — making our typical high tides even higher — El Niño notwithstanding.

— Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
If industrial mining machines churn up the seafloor, these delicate biological networks could collapse.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of churn

Browse Nearby Words

moiety

moil

moiled

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Style

“Moil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moil. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of moil

noun

verb

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