moil 1 of 2

noun

Definition of moilnext
1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity went for a retreat at the monastery for a temporary respite from the moil of the modern world

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2
as in labor
very hard or unpleasant work fed up with the moil and moneygrubbing of Wall Street, he decided to open a bed-and-breakfast in Vermont

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moil

2 of 2

verb

ˈmȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce moil (audio)
1
as in to labor
to devote serious and sustained effort miners moiling all day in the sunless recesses of the earth

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to swirl
to be in a state of violent rolling motion the angry mob moiled around the courthouse

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 moil
Noun
Through a stranger’s eyes, though, the UBA’s moil of laws and lore is a clear symptom of mental illness. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026 The delight of online life gave way to its moil, and the pleasure of online services has been eroded by their many downsides, from compulsion to autocracy. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2020
Verb
There are strange things done in the midnight sun, by the men who moil for gold. — Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moil
  1. commotion
  2. labor
  3. struggle
  4. swirl
  5. disturbance
  6. effort
  7. strive
  8. churn
Noun
  • In the commotion, she was briefly separated from her 85-year-old mother, who lives with her.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That allowed passengers to hear the commotion and discover what was happening.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of commotion
Noun
  • Council members would also have to waive the city’s 10-day public posting requirement for labor agreements — a move requiring a two-thirds vote.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The longtime community and labor organizer has been an outspoken progressive voice in the state legislature since she was elected in 2020.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of labor
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
Verb
  • The composition of these jets isn’t crystal clear, but scientists suspect electrons, positrons (the antimatter versions of electrons) and perhaps protons are pulled along swirling magnetic lines before being sent out from the black hole’s poles.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • As for the suites, the highlight is their private terraces, peaceful havens from which to admire, paradoxically, the urban whirlwind swirling below.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of swirl
Noun
  • The vote, which is veto-proof, was met with praise by animal rights groups and park advocates who have long called for the ban citing several incidents where horses crashed or caused disturbances.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • There’s also a second disturbance several hundred miles east-southeast of Bermuda that could develop through Friday while moving north-northeast, the hurricane center advisory said.
    — Robin Webb, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of disturbance
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
  • 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
Verb
  • These are songs that iterate and elevate minor party fouls into dramas of symphonic proportion, arrangements that articulate the heightened emotions churning inside anxious minds.
    — Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
  • White froth churned as the slightly more alkaline water cascaded into the gray-blue harbor.
    — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of churn

Browse Nearby Words

moiety
moil
moiled
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Cite this Entry

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

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