duty

noun

ˈdü-tē How to pronounce duty (audio)
Definition of dutynext
1
as in tax
a charge usually of money collected by the government from people or businesses for public use the shop at the airport charges no duty on tourist memorabilia

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in task
a piece of work that needs to be done regularly the regular duties of a lifeguard

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in obligation
something one must do because of prior agreement I must obey the call of duty and serve my country

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun duty contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of duty are assignment, chore, job, stint, and task. While all these words mean "a piece of work to be done," duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

the duties of a lifeguard

When is it sensible to use assignment instead of duty?

In some situations, the words assignment and duty are roughly equivalent. However, assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

a reporter's assignment

Where would chore be a reasonable alternative to duty?

The words chore and duty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

every child was assigned chores

When could job be used to replace duty?

The synonyms job and duty are sometimes interchangeable, but job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance.

the job of turning the company around

In what contexts can stint take the place of duty?

The meanings of stint and duty largely overlap; however, stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

a 2-month stint as a reporter

When can task be used instead of duty?

Although the words task and duty have much in common, task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance.

charged with a variety of tasks

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of duty Their main approach when defending corners is keeping Paredes, who remains superb in the air, free from marking duties in order to position herself in the middle of their six-yard box and head clear absolutely anything that comes in her direction. —Michael Cox, New York Times, 27 July 2025 Be For Films is handling sales duties on the movie. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 July 2025 Any pledges of investment in the U.S. also come as Trump’s tariffs face legal challenges, with a court hearing scheduled Thursday on whether the president has authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose wide-ranging duties. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 27 July 2025 There are typically lifeguards on duty, and amenities like showers, restrooms, and picnic areas provide a more convenient experience. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 27 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for duty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duty
  1. tax
  2. task
  3. obligation
  4. job
  5. responsibility
  6. assignment
  7. need
Noun
  • Recent polls by Nikkei and Tokyo Broadcasting System show that younger Japanese are more inclined to support tax cuts, while older generations prefer maintaining the status quo to safeguard social welfare.
    — , CNBC, 23 July 2025
  • Wisconsin tax cuts are a tradeoff, have to be made up elsewhere While the exemption will benefit thousands of retirees when tax season rolls around in April, the policy could have long-term effects on Wisconsinites of all ages.
    — Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 23 July 2025
Definition of tax
Noun
  • The food truck team operators are judged on their culinary skills each week in a new town challenged with the task of creating dishes that will outsell their competition to stay in the competition.
    — Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 25 July 2025
  • Counting clicks or pageviews doesn’t help if nobody is completing the core task.
    — Pallishree Panigrahi, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Definition of task
Noun
  • The Texas Data Privacy and Security Act, which went into effect in July, creates transparency and disclosure obligations on the collection of consumer data.
    — Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
  • James said the obligation brands and retailers would be subject to under the new law don’t infringe on NRF members’ First Amendment rights.
    — Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 29 July 2025
Definition of obligation
Noun
  • Data showed across seven Valley cities that there were 158 full-time employees with a park ranger job title.
    — Maritza Dominguez, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025
  • Great companies create cultures where ideas matter more than job titles.
    — JJ Rosen, The Tennessean, 24 July 2025
Definition of job
Noun
  • Women: 'Plan to destroy Oak Flat will devastate me and my people' Traditionally in Indian Country, women are given the responsibility to pass cultural teachings to the next generation.
    — Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 30 July 2025
  • Causes of youth homelessness include family breakdowns, evictions, and cultural beliefs about parental responsibility ending at age 18.
    — Ethan Hylton, IndyStar, 30 July 2025
Definition of responsibility
Noun
  • But is Fitzpatrick giving off excitement about his new NFL assignment?
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 24 July 2025
  • There’s a belief that Graterol could start ramping up for a rehab assignment sometime next month, though Gomes said Graterol wouldn’t need much of a buildup to be ready for postseason action.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 23 July 2025
Definition of assignment
Noun
  • The Smithsonian acknowledged the need for a comprehensive update of its presidential impeachment exhibit.
    — Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Aug. 2025
  • To the best of your ability and as much as your space allows, find a home for each piece of clothing that makes sense for its individual needs.
    — Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2025
Definition of need

Browse Nearby Words

dutifulness
duty
duumvirate
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Cite this Entry

“Duty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duty. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on duty

Nglish: Translation of duty for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about duty

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