toil
7 synonyms and 2 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.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
Hard, exhausting work.
“Years of toil in the fields had left his hands rough and calloused.”
Opposites
How to use toil
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
toil and trouble
toil away
years of toil
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.
