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
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 May 2026
Yoriko toils in anonymity in Nagi as a sculptor of human figures hewn from raw blocks of wood.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
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
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
While Alina toils in the greenhouses, Lucian makes new friends.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 May 2026
Yoriko toils in anonymity in Nagi as a sculptor of human figures hewn from raw blocks of wood.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toils
Noun
-
Scratched carpets are buried under tangles of wires and computing gear.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
-
Electrical outlets and power strips Outlets, surge protectors and the tangle of cords behind an entertainment center collect more dust than people realize.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The problem is, when your side lack intensity, aggression and cohesion, those traps are easy to spot and avoid.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
The inspector also observed mouse droppings in multiple areas of the kitchen, like behind the grease trap and on dry storage shelves.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
By slow degrees, Philip’s story shifts to accommodate the incontrovertible evidence of IP addresses and deciphered cryptography and Lucy struggles to keep up, let alone understand.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
-
Courtesy Christine Russo Christine Russo, Dominic Russo’s older sister, who participated in the Netflix documentary, said her family still struggles with his loss.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
That kind of depth of view is the only way astronomers can get a true picture of the cosmic web.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
-
Throughout their first five albums, the band has spun a web, not unlike the orb weavers of their native Virginia, that marries country, rock, honky-tonk grit and Appalachian soul with rowdy barroom energy.—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Anyone who’s seen enough adaptations knows the difference between one that strives to apprehend the source material and one that feels derived from a Wikipedia summary.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Accessibility Ocean Casino Resort strives to provide an accessible experience for all guests.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Who is murdered, why and Clare’s entanglement in the whole deal unfold over the remainder of the novel, featuring much tighter and more plausible plotting than your average suspense story.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
-
My guiding principle would be protecting American interests while avoiding unnecessary entanglements—making decisions grounded in facts, realism, and a clear understanding of the regional, economic, and security implications involved.—
Rachel Royster
May 14,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Everyone who works with him, their salary goes up, the writers, the producers.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
19 May 2026
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Public Counsel, a pro bono law firm in Los Angeles that works with low-income communities and vendors, is also working with coalitions and the city of Inglewood to ask that vendors be included in economic opportunities at the games and people in the area without legal status be protected.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Toils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toils. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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