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noun C2 Proficient

drudgery

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

noun
1
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
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Word forms

Plural
drudgeries
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Fill the gap

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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.

grind plodding donkeywork

Related words

Rhymes for drudgery

See all rhymes for drudgery →

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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