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Definitions

work on

VERB
annoy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitate bore bother displease disturb exasperate fire up gall irk peeve perturb rile trouble turn off vex worry
STRONG
abrade badger bedevil beleaguer break bug chafe distress get gnaw harass harry madden miff nag needle nettle nudge pester plague provoke ride ruffle tease
WEAK
T-off ask for it be at be on the back of burn up egg on heat up henpeck hit where one lives make waves push button tick off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid appease assist calm charm cheer comfort delight enchant help make happy please quiet reassure soothe
STRONG
mollify support
WEAK
gratify
VERB
badger
Synonyms
STRONGEST
annoy bully goad harass heckle hound pester tease torment
STRONG
bait bug eat harry hassle importune needle nudge plague ride
WEAK
give the business insist on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid delight help leave alone make happy please support
STRONG
assist
VERB
besiege
Synonyms
STRONGEST
beleaguer beset blockade encircle hem in trap
STRONG
assail attack confine congregate encompass environ invest
WEAK
come at from all sides lay siege to shut in work over
Antonyms
STRONGEST
let go
WEAK
leave alone
VERB
butter up
Synonyms
WEAK
adulate bootlick brown-nose build up cajole flatter inveigle lay it on thick massage play up to soften spread it on stroke suck up to sweet-talk
VERB
cajole
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deceive delude dupe entice entrap seduce tantalize tempt wheedle
STRONG
banter beguile blandish bootlick con induce influence inveigle jolly lure maneuver mislead oil push snow soap soft-soap soften stroke sweet-talk urge
WEAK
apple-polish argue into brown-nose butter up get around get next to hand a line lay it on thick make up to play up to rub the right way spread it on suck up to sweeten up work over
Antonyms
STRONG
discourage dissuade
WEAK
bully force
VERB
coax
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cajole entice induce tease tempt wheedle
STRONG
allure barter beguile blandish blarney decoy flatter get hook importune influence inveigle jawbone lure pester plague press soft-soap soothe sweet-talk urge wangle worm
WEAK
argue into arm-twist butter up con prevail upon rope in talk into
Antonyms
STRONGEST
discourage repel repulse turn off
STRONG
disenchant disgust dissuade please
WEAK
allow not care
VERB
drive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
chase encourage force herd inspire make motivate prompt propel push rush send spur stimulate
STRONG
actuate animate arouse bulldoze coerce compel constrain dog goad goose harass hasten hound hurl hurry hustle impel induce instigate kick nag oblige overburden overwork pound press pressure prod provoke railroad rouse shepherd shove steamroll worry
WEAK
act upon egg on lean on put up to ride herd on spirit up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
depress discourage dissuade halt prevent stop
STRONG
calm dally delay hinder impede leave alone let go please procrastinate pull rest slow wait
WEAK
check curb repress retard
VERB
flatter
Synonyms
STRONGEST
charm
STRONG
adulate blandish bootlick cajole con court fawn glorify grovel humor inveigle jolly oil overpraise praise salve sell snow soft-soap soften stroke sweet-talk toady wheedle
WEAK
brown-nose build up butter up cater to get next to lay it on thick play up to rub the right way spread it on suck up to sweeten up work over
Antonyms
STRONG
condemn ignore
WEAK
belittle castigate criticize denounce insult offend
VERB
harass
Synonyms
STRONGEST
burn hassle heckle hound intimidate persecute pester raid tease torment
STRONG
annoy attack bait bedevil beleaguer bother bug bullyrag despoil devil distress disturb eat exasperate exhaust fatigue foray gnaw harry irk irritate macerate maraud pain perplex plague ride strain stress tire trouble try vex weary worry
WEAK
get to give a bad time give a hard time jerk around noodge rattle one's cage
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist delight encourage help make happy please
STRONG
activate assuage build calm clarify clear up comfort energize explain invigorate placate reassure refresh soothe support
WEAK
facilitate
VERB
importune
Synonyms
STRONG
appeal ask badger beg beseech beset besiege con crave dun entreat goose harass hound implore invoke nag persuade pester plague plead pray press sell solicit supplicate urge
WEAK
egg on
Antonyms
STRONG
aid answer assist command discourage dissuade give help leave alone please refuse reply
VERB
move
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bring carry convert drive lead operate propel push shift start turn
STRONG
activate actuate advocate affect agitate budge cause excite impel impress incite induce inspire inspirit instigate introduce persuade prompt propose quicken recommend rouse shove stimulate stir strike submit suggest sway touch urge
WEAK
bring up draw up get going give rise to play on prevail upon put forward tug at
Antonyms
STRONGEST
discourage dissuade hold keep lose remain repress stop
STRONG
calm delay dull halt hinder leave alone lull oppose prevent quiet slow suppress tranquilize
WEAK
dishearten fix pause stay
VERB
nag
Synonyms
STRONGEST
annoy badger berate fuss hector hound irk irritate pester scold tease torment vex
STRONG
bait bug dog eat egg goad harry heckle importune needle nudge plague prod provoke ride upbraid urge worry
WEAK
carp at find fault give a hard time pick at take it out on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist compliment delight help make happy please praise soothe
STRONG
discourage dissuade support
WEAK
assuage
VERB
pester
Synonyms
STRONGEST
annoy badger bedevil hassle hector hound irk nag tease torment
STRONG
beleaguer bug disturb dog fret harry importune insist nudge plague provoke remind ride tantalize worry
WEAK
be at drive crazy drive up the wall get at get in one's hair get on one's nerves get to mess with pick at
Antonyms
STRONGEST
delight make happy please
STRONG
aid appease assist calm comfort forget help pacify reassure soothe
VERB
press
Synonyms
STRONGEST
assail demand force petition push squeeze sue urge worry
STRONG
afflict beg beset besiege buttonhole compel constrain depress disquiet enjoin entreat exhort harass implore importune oppress plague plead pressurize railroad sadden sell supplicate torment vex
WEAK
come at insist on lean on weigh down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
give
STRONG
aid assist cheer comfort help please soothe
VERB
sway
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dominate impress inspire overrule persuade
STRONG
bias brainwash carry conduct control crack direct dispose get govern guide hook incline induce manage move predispose reign rule sell strike touch
WEAK
hold sway over impact on lead by the nose prevail on put across rule over soften up suck in turn one's head twist one's arm win over
Antonyms
STRONGEST
discourage dissuade
STRONG
misguide mislead neglect serve
WEAK
leave alone
VERB
sweet-talk
Synonyms
STRONG
allure barter beguile blandish blarney cajole con decoy entice flatter get honey up hook importune induce influence inveigle jawbone lure pester plague press soft-soap soothe tease tempt urge wangle wheedle worm
WEAK
argue into arm-twist butter up come on prevail upon rope in talk into
Antonyms
STRONG
discourage disenchant disgust dissuade please prevent repel repulse turn off
VERB
sweet-talk
Synonyms
STRONG
adulate blandish bootlick cajole charm con court fawn glorify grovel humor inveigle jolly massage oil overpraise praise salve sell soft-soap soften stroke toady wheedle
WEAK
brown-nose build up butter up cater to get next to lay it on thick play up to rub the right way spread it on suck up to sweeten up work over
Antonyms
STRONG
condemn ignore irritate repel turn off
VERB
tackle
Synonyms
STRONGEST
begin deal with engage in take on try undertake
STRONG
accept attack attempt essay launch
WEAK
apply oneself bang away at come to grips with devote oneself to embark upon give a try give a whirl go for it make a run at pitch into set about square off start the ball rolling take a shot at take in hand take on try on for size turn one's hand to turn to
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abstain complete conclude end finish
STRONG
be lazy
WEAK
avoid dodge forget idle neglect
VERB
wheedle
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cajole finagle
STRONG
banter blandish charm coax con court draw entice flatter inveigle kowtow oil persuade seduce snow soap soft-soap sweet-talk worm
WEAK
butter up lay it on soften up spread it on sweeten up
Antonyms
STRONG
dissuade

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.

He said on social media that the Interior Department would oversee work on the new course.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 28, 2026

And yes, Apple is also reportedly hard at work on its own smartglasses, although it is unclear when they might arrive.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

Someone who knows Miliband told the BBC he would be "a massive asset to Andy Burnham's cabinet," citing his work on the international stage in foreign affairs, humanitarian action and climate change.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2026

The center had much to show for its work on earth systems modeling and had made technical progress on carbon capture and storage.

From Salon • Jun. 26, 2026

“I’m off to work on a film for a couple of weeks, but when I get back, I’ll dip in,” she promised.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

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