as in efforts
very hard or unpleasant work
the donkeywork involved in setting up one's own start-up software firm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for donkeyworks
Noun
-
While Walker took home the award, several members of Seattle’s defense turned in MVP-level efforts.—
Alex Valdes,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026 -
Instead, in an email to Blodget, a representative for Epstein’s philanthropic foundation said the foundation was hoping to remove the mugshot because doing so would help its research efforts.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Moos wrote that when Frost showed up for a secret interview at a Philadelphia hotel the night before his undefeated UCF team played a road game at Temple, Frost was unshaven and wearing sweats.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Most work dress codes don’t allow for sweats or leggings, but silky trousers have the same comfy-soft feel and will make for a rich-looking outfit every time.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The main premise of the original Patlabor anime still holds true with EZY, with the focus being on a future Japanese police force using mecha called labors to combat crime.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The sticky organism reminded him of the next day’s labors and the scent of the forest.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
White southerners took great pains to keep track of men and women like Henry Fordham.—
Eugene Robinson,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2026
-
My adolescence was an ordinary one, its joys and pains small.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
How Tielemans overcame early toils is often used as a source of encouragement by new additions who seem peripheral at first.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Several notable political figures, including lawyers and former government ministers, headed through a glass door at the hotel guarded by men in fatigues after being directed by a woman to submit their documents.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
-
An accompanying video set to high-energy rock-dance music shows Maxima smiling in green army fatigues before jumping into a pool, then rock climbing in a helmet.—
Frank Andrews,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Vaccarello, who was born and raised in Belgium to Sicilian parents, spends a month in Los Angeles twice each year, usually in March and November, a recuperation from the semiannual exertions of the women’s collection.—
Rob Haskell,
Vogue,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The little girl began to feel drowsy after her exertions at the swimming pool and decided to curl up beside her.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Don’t put corn husks, coffee grinds, onion peels, peach pits, eggshells, bones, vegetable peels, meat scraps, grease and large amounts of pasta down the drain.—
Jessica Elliott,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
This is because the amount of coffee that can fit in a volumetric measuring tool like a tablespoon can vary with different grinds.—
Noah Kaufman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Feb. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Donkeyworks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/donkeyworks. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
