toil
7 synonyms and 0 antonyms for toil, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Hard, exhausting work.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use toil
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Somewhat literary or formal; everyday speech usually just says "work hard" instead.
Etymology
From Middle English "toilen," blending an Anglo-Norman word meaning "to agitate or entangle" with an Old English word meaning "to labour or strive."
Full origin of toil →Frequently asked questions
What does “toil” mean?
The word “toil” means hard, exhausting work. In plain terms, working very hard, usually over a long period, especially at something tiring or difficult.
How do you pronounce “toil”?
“Toil” is pronounced toyl (/tɔɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “toil” in a sentence?
Here is “toil” used in a sentence: “Years of toil in the fields had left his hands rough and calloused.”
What part of speech is “toil”?
Depending on how it is used, “toil” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “toil” come from?
The word “toil” comes from Old English. From Middle English "toilen," blending an Anglo-Norman word meaning "to agitate or entangle" with an Old English word meaning "to labour or strive.".
How many meanings does “toil” have?
“Toil” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: hard, exhausting work.