drudge 1 of 2

noun

Definition of drudgenext
1
as in laborer
a person who does very hard or dull work worked like a drudge at a low-paying job that had few benefits

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in drudgery
very hard or unpleasant work it took hours of pure drudge to sort through the junk in the basement

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

drudge

2 of 2

verb

ˈdrəj How to pronounce drudge (audio)
as in to labor
to devote serious and sustained effort factory workers who must drudge all day at repetitive tasks

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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 drudge
Noun
Offload drudge work and risky tasks so humans can focus on safer, more creative work. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025 The corporate laborers of the industrial age were drudges, and might have needed the scaffolding of managerial hierarchies to make widgets in bulk. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2025
Verb
Their previous defeat, a 33-point drudging by the Atlanta Hawks, led to coach Doug Christie chastising his team’s defensive effort after the game. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 14 Nov. 2025 After months of drudging through renovations, the Tiki Taco team will soon enjoy the (jack)fruits of its labor. — Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2024 See All Example Sentences for drudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drudge
  1. laborer
  2. drudgery
  3. labor
  4. worker
  5. effort
  6. struggle
  7. toil
  8. strive
Noun
  • Her philanthropic activities extended far beyond her own community to include Indigenous inmates, Chinese immigrants, and white laborers, along with countless other Angelenos.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
  • In the previous decades, Japan had brought in many Korean, Chinese, and Taiwanese laborers, often under duress, to work in factories and mines, usually in atrocious conditions.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of laborer
Noun
  • This sets up a stark contrast between their bliss and the matrimonial drudgery the townspeople endure.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
  • That’s because of the massive opportunity cost such dollarless drudgery inflicts.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of drudgery
Verb
  • Democratic politicians, bureaucrats and labor leaders, once rabble-rousers like Bass who nowadays seem to exist mostly to keep their sinecure, have labored mightily to convince unbelieving voters that Bass deserves another shot.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The circumstances of Saint Michael’s help while the pilgrim labored and delivered in the ocean were markedly different from those in the miracle ascribed to the Virgin.
    — Ellen O’Connell Whittet, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of labor
Noun
  • In new measures, the army said most Palestinian workers with permits will not be allowed to enter Israeli West Bank settlements on Sunday and Monday, and crossings into Israel will remain closed until after Israel's elections on Tuesday.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Crump also highlighted that Foster was accused of making a racially offensive remark to a co-worker days before the shooting, according to Mississippi Today.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of worker
Noun
  • The $60 million ceiling covers a three-year development effort, but the announcement does not establish a final procurement value.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Over the past two months, amid efforts to find what could be more than $20 billion to recapitalize insurance funds, Walter has sold his controlling interest in the Lakers and a minority share of Chelsea, the English Premier League club.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of effort
Verb
  • But even when Antetokounmpo was on the court in the second half, the Heat struggled.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The high prices are adding to pain for cattle ranchers in western states, who were already struggling with persistent drought.
    — Anna King, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of struggle
Noun
  • Celebrities brought their own takes on toil and trouble to the red carpet, though.
    — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Diana went on vacations to get away from her intense public life (and private marital toil).
    — Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of toil
Verb
  • Filmed largely on the doctors’ phones, the film offers an intimate account of the people striving to preserve life amid a devastating humanitarian crisis.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Are these trends in direct conversation with the rise in weight loss medications, as luxury customers strive to show off their new bodies?
    — Rachael Akhidenor, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of strive

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Cite this Entry

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

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