noun C2 Proficient

drudgery

DRUHD-zhuh-ree

Drudgery (noun) means Hard, boring, and unrewarding work. Example: “She was tired of the daily drudgery of filing paperwork.”

noun

Hard, boring, and unrewarding work.

"She was tired of the daily drudgery of filing paperwork."

"Farm life in those days meant endless drudgery."

How to use drudgery

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTedious, exhausting work that feels like a grind rather than a challenge.

Common pairings

daily drudgery endless drudgery

Word forms

drudgeries plural

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She was tired of the daily _____ of filing paperwork.

Etymology

Built from "drudge" (someone stuck doing dull, low-status work) plus the suffix "-ery," which names a trade or activity.

Synonyms

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grind plodding donkeywork

Related words

labour slow boring powder sweat grind dragging hustle

Rhymes for drudgery

very every fiery query leery emery artery celery bakery finery ornery misery

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Frequently asked questions

What does “drudgery” mean?

The word “drudgery” means hard, boring, and unrewarding work. In plain terms, tedious, exhausting work that feels like a grind rather than a challenge.

How do you pronounce “drudgery”?

“Drudgery” is pronounced DRUHD-zhuh-ree (/ˈdɹʌd͡ʒəɹi/ in IPA).

How do you use “drudgery” in a sentence?

Here is “drudgery” used in a sentence: “She was tired of the daily drudgery of filing paperwork.”

What part of speech is “drudgery”?

“Drudgery” is a noun.

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