ASSIGNMENT Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'assignment' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of assignment are chore , duty , job , stint , and task . While all these words mean "a piece of work to be done," assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority. // a reporter's assignment

Q: When is it sensible to use 'chore' instead of 'assignment'?

While the synonyms chore and assignment are close in meaning, chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm. // every child was assigned chores

Q: When is 'duty' a more appropriate choice than 'assignment'?

Although the words duty and assignment have much in common, duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance. // the duties of a lifeguard

Q: When might 'job' be a better fit than 'assignment'?

The synonyms job and assignment 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

Q: When could 'stint' be used to replace 'assignment'?

In some situations, the words stint and assignment are roughly equivalent. However, stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service. // a 2-month stint as a reporter

Q: When can 'task' be used instead of 'assignment'?

The meanings of task and assignment largely overlap; however, task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance. // charged with a variety of tasks

assignment

noun

ə-ˈsīn-mənt

Definition of assignment

as in task

a piece of work that needs to be done regularly his first newspaper assignment was writing obituaries

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in job

a specific task with which a person or group is charged the spy team's assignment was to steal the plans for the nuclear reactor

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in lesson

something assigned to be read or studied have you read the assignment for tomorrow?

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in appointment

the state or fact of being chosen for a position or duty her assignment to the board of directors was a point of considerable pride for her

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun assignment contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of assignment are chore, duty, job, stint, and task. While all these words mean "a piece of work to be done," assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

a reporter's assignment

When is it sensible to use chore instead of assignment?

While the synonyms chore and assignment are close in meaning, chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

every child was assigned chores

When is duty a more appropriate choice than assignment?

Although the words duty and assignment have much in common, duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

the duties of a lifeguard

When might job be a better fit than assignment?

The synonyms job and assignment 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

When could stint be used to replace assignment?

In some situations, the words stint and assignment are roughly equivalent. 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 assignment?

The meanings of task and assignment largely overlap; however, 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 assignment Tobias Sühlmann’s first major assignment as Porsche’s new head of design was to create the look for its fifth supercar. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026 Seattle accomplishes this by masterfully disguising defensive assignments before the snap, which can force Mahomes to diagnose where to go with the football only after dropping back. — Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026 The six core areas that are typically reviewed by courts are student assignment, faculty assignment, staff assignment, transportation, facilities and extracurricular activities, though other areas can also be considered. — Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 But an essay is evidence that someone has completed an assignment. — Debbie Millman, Time, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for assignment

Recent Examples of Synonyms for assignment

Noun

Once again, if Tesla were bringing already big and fast-rising profits to the table, the task wouldn’t be nearly as difficult.

— Shawn Tully, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, al-Ali held several meetings with Saudi officers at the Defense Ministry in Riyadh to discuss the costs of transferring around 10,000 fighters, financial arrangements, additional benefits and their intended military tasks.

— Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of task

Noun

Our job, before and after AI, is building safe and useful products for human beings, and engineers are still best suited for that.

— Brian Jenney, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Oct. 2026
The Commission’s sovereignty framework considers the extent to which investment, jobs and value creation remain within the EU and European Economic Area.

— Margot Edelman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of job

Noun

That circumspection is the result of some hard lessons from a century of booms and busts.

— Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
After a brief safety lesson on navigating the course and its cables, participants can ride a zip line into the park, gliding 60 feet above the quarry floor at speeds exceeding 30 mph.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of lesson

Noun

Those allegations include neglect of duty and violations of the department's code of conduct.

— Derek James, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
The university said Elizabeth Hall, associate vice chancellor for university compliance, was appointed to serve in both roles in addition to her existing duties.

— Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of duty

Noun

The technology could be particularly useful in situations where drones operate frequently or perform missions with limited time for detailed manual checks.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
The recovery mission, involving remote, unexplored terrain, a helicopter at extremely high altitude, and the constant threat of more avalanches from above, was as dangerous, perhaps, as anything these men had ever attempted.

— Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of mission

Noun

On a cold February morning at West Virginia’s Capitol, children in winter jackets, holding signs and their homework, clogged the hallways outside the House Finance Committee room.

— Henry Culvyhouse, ProPublica, 19 Oct. 2026
Cooked for Kip, helped him with homework, tucked him in, walked him to school in the morning, giving him little pep talks on the way—joy, not fear, and so on.

— George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of homework

Browse Nearby Words

assigning

assignment

assignments

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Style

“Assignment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assignment. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of assignment

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