labor
Usage
What are other ways to say labor?
Labor particularly denotes hard manual work: backbreaking labor; arduous labor. Drudgery suggests continuous, dreary, and dispiriting work, especially of a menial or servile kind: the drudgery of household tasks. Toil suggests wearying or exhausting labor: toil that breaks down the worker's health. Work is the general word and may apply to exertion that is either easy or hard: fun work; heavy work.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The health insurance impact on young workers from AI disruption is likely to lag labor market trends.
From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026
Economists attribute increased union activity to inflation and a tight labor market, but some foresee regulatory headwinds.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
Prices for things like lawn care, pet care and laundry services have gone up more than usual due to a scarcity of labor and continued high demand.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026
Riley crafting a cogent message about workers’ rights and the price of labor would be a feat in and of itself, especially in a film this fun.
From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026
Later, as an ambitious farmer, George Washington relied completely on enslaved labor to grow his crops, catch fish in the nearby Potomac River, clean his house, make his clothes, and put food on his table.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
Vocabulary lists containing labor
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Labor Day Lexicon: Words That Put You To Work
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Working Together: The Language of Unions
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