Mechanical power took the place of manual labor.
Source: tatoeba (20471)
Labor
/ˈleɪ.bɚ/
Synonyms for "labor" (342 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (69)
Noun(15 words)
accouchementactivitiesactivityaffairaffairsaimalways trot outamplifyassignmentbagbe busybe confinedbe determinedbe employedbearbear a childbear youngbelaborbirthbirth throes
Show 30 more words
birthingblessed eventblunderbusinessbusyworkcalvecareencareercarry on businesscastcharcharechargechildbearingchildbedchildbirthchorecommercecommissioncompleteconcernconcernmentconfinementcultivatedeliverydetaildirty workdo businessdo charsdo the chores
Strong matches (102)
donkeyworkdressdrivedropdrudgedrudgerydutydwelldwell ondwell uponeffortelaborateemployemployeesemploymentendeavorendureenlargeenlarge uponenter into detail
Show 44 more words
enterpriseerrandessayexerciseexertionexpandfagfalterfarrowfatiguefawnfish to fryflounceflounderfoalfollow a tradefunctiongenesisgive birthgiving birthgo intogrindhammer away athandiworkhandworkhard workharp onhatchinghavehave a babyhave a jobhave younghaving a babyhomeworkindustryinsist uponinterestjobjob of workkeep upkittenlabor underlaborerslaboriousness
Noun(27 words)
Adjective(1 words)
great exertion
Related words (171)
Noun(45 words)
lamblicklick of worklie inlingerlitterlookoutlurchmake-workmanual labormattermatters in handmissionmoilmoonlightmultiparitynascencynativityoccupationodd job
Show 84 more words
overdooveremphasizeoverstresspainpainsparturitionpersistpiece of workpitchpitch and plungeplodpluggingplungepractice a professionprojectpuprat racereelreiterateresolverockrollscut workseekseetheserviceset up shopslaveslaverysloggingspadeworkspell outstaggerstay employedstintstorkstrainstrivestrivingstrokestroke of workstrugglestudystumblesufferswaysweatsweat bloodswingswottasktendthe nativitythe storkthingthings to dothrash aboutthresh overthrowtilltiresome worktoiltosstoss and tumbletoss and turntottertransact businesstravailtreadmilltugtumbleturn a handundertakingwallopwallowwelterwhelpworkwork atwork forwork outworkerswrestleyean
Verb(20 words)
Adjective(1 words)
physical effort
Determiner(1 words)
the more effort
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: toil, ability to work, accouchement, activities, activity.
- Sentence evidence is available for labor, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "labor".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "labor"
Keep "labor" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "labor" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "labor", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "labor" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
24 entriesbiological processbirthbirth processbirthingclassdo workeffortemploymentexecutive departmentfightgiving birthlabor partylabour partyparturitionpeoplereform movement
Showing 16 of 24 words.
More specific
11 entriesCollocations
9 entrieschild laborhard laborlabor costslabor forcelabor hourslabor marketlabor painslabor rightslabor union
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
9 entriessimilar
2 entriesbear onpush
Sample sentences
13 total sentences available.
Machinery dispenses with much labor.
Source: tatoeba (20480)
Learning without thought is labor lost.
Source: tatoeba (21641)
In England, Labor Day is in May.
Source: tatoeba (26161)
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "labor"?
Closest matches include toil, ability to work, accouchement, activities, activity.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "labor"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.