as in tangle
something that catches and holds
a married woman hopelessly caught in the toils of an extramarital affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in labors
to devote serious and sustained effort
toiled for many years on the mammoth outdoor sculpture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of toils
Paul Newman, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Both were premised on the idea of frictionless ease, liberating their users from outmoded toils.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
The conceit of narrating a year in one’s life through the toils and sensations of the kitchen is one that many have taken up before.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 4 Feb. 2026
Several Democratic incumbents are seeing their young primary opponents boast impressive fundraising numbers as the party toils between placing its faith in its incumbent establishment or in a future featuring younger, more progressive candidates.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025
The film unfolds from the perspective of an eight-year-old girl named Qing (Aline Chen), who lives and works the land with her mother, Hongmei (Li Yanxi), while her father toils in a factory in a faraway city.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
There has to be a chance that Jos Buttler’s toils in Sri Lanka and India represent his last ventures on the international stage, and therefore the end of an era.
—Paul Newman, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Both were premised on the idea of frictionless ease, liberating their users from outmoded toils.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
The conceit of narrating a year in one’s life through the toils and sensations of the kitchen is one that many have taken up before.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
Union itself released a dramatic trailer set in a surgical amphitheater in which a medical team toils away at the sneaker.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 4 Feb. 2026
Several Democratic incumbents are seeing their young primary opponents boast impressive fundraising numbers as the party toils between placing its faith in its incumbent establishment or in a future featuring younger, more progressive candidates.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025
The film unfolds from the perspective of an eight-year-old girl named Qing (Aline Chen), who lives and works the land with her mother, Hongmei (Li Yanxi), while her father toils in a factory in a faraway city.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toils
Noun
-
He was involved in assembling Epstein's complex web of businesses, properties and legal teams for a voluminous tangle of civil and criminal matters.—
Graham Kates,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Chapek’s woes as Disney chief have been well documented, from his tangles in Florida to an ugly public spat with Scarlett Johansson to alienating top executives by removing creative decision-making authority in a hugely unpopular restructuring.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Both teams created chances after the interval and Como coach Cesc Fabregas' changes paid off as Tasos Douvikas beat the offside trap to equalize.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Trump is risking falling into the Biden trap by asking Americans to endure higher prices for a war in the Middle East.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The difference is that, while Carolyn struggles to define herself against expectation, John has always obliged expectation.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
-
But some midseason struggles, and a shoulder injury kept him from establishing himself as a rookie starter.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
It’s expected to bring together ChatGPT, its Codex coding tools, and its Atlas web browser.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Over time, Norris also became a web phenomenon, the subject of memes and jokes that parodied his image of invincibility.—
Valentina Colosimo,
Vanity Fair,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Their concierge service strives to provide anything guests may require, from a wellness network of massage therapists to a partnership with a local gym.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Heidi is unlike Lauren, who strives for Teen Vogue internships in Paris and New York, and even less like Lauren’s intern rival, Emily Weiss, who would go on to found the billion-dollar beauty brand Glossier and become an emblem of girlboss feminism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
What that résumé doesn’t show, however, is Sinofsky’s entanglement in the murkier corners of the business world.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The transatlantic entanglement also means that Brent’s status as a relatively neutral benchmark is changing.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Proven Fit and Comfort Like the Ghost 17 road shoe, the Ghost Trail securely holds the heel and midfoot while giving way to a just-roomy-enough toe box for a fit that works across most foot types.—
Lisa Jhung,
Outside,
16 Mar. 2026
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Best Casting was this year’s new category, and the show presented it really cleanly and movingly, with one actor from each film onstage talking to the nominated casting director about how their work shaped the entire film and how the casting process works.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Toils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toils. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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