TOIL Synonyms: 143 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

toil 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈtȯi(-ə)l

Definition of toil

as in labor

very hard or unpleasant work after years of toil in a sweatshop, Kim was finally able to start her own dressmaking business

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in to labor

to devote serious and sustained effort toiled for many years on the mammoth outdoor sculpture

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 poem is about how our most worthwhile pursuits—things like art, love, and beauty—often seem to demand a measure of toil. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026 With debts racking up, Ina loses the family’s bus company, forcing her to shift between jobs, from construction to becoming a bar entertainer, therefore forging an identity through toil. — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026

Verb

Seth Wenig After a lifetime toiling away in anonymity, Macken hopes to display the model elsewhere when the museum exhibit ends on Columbus Day. — CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026 That’s what Francisco had done, toiling in Texas for a stint to afford a house back home large enough for his 12 children. — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for toil

Recent Examples of Synonyms for toil

Noun

Council members would also have to waive the city’s 10-day public posting requirement for labor agreements — a move requiring a two-thirds vote.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
The longtime community and labor organizer has been an outspoken progressive voice in the state legislature since she was elected in 2020.

— Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of labor

Noun

The ejection of water molecules favors the interaction, supporting the alignment needed for the messy tangle to grow.

— Mike McRae October 13, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026
This tangle of contradictions had served in the Army for over four decades, spending several years as Army Chief of Staff.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of tangle

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

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

Noun

Sticky traps with dead insects on them were seen under dry storage area and on the side of a deep freezer.

— Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
These traps kill rats, but also gather information about movements and population sizes, according to the health district.

— Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of trap

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

Noun

Sebum, sweat, dead skin cells, and product buildup can accumulate over time, which is why effective cleansing is an essential part of the scalp’s wellbeing.

— Laura Sandroni, Vogue, 16 Oct. 2026
The outerwear, pants, shorts, sweats and T-shirts are created from high-end materials but designed to be classic and quiet.

— Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of sweat

Noun

Decodo, a web data company, tracked price changes in 2025 across products ranging from electronics to clothing and home improvement supplies.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
Watch for unexplained web addresses, encoded strings or commands that download and immediately execute remote scripts.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of web

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to hand

toil

toiled

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“Toil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toil. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of toil

noun (1)

noun (2)

verb

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