TOILSOME Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

toilsome

adjective

ˈtȯi(-ə)l-səm

Definition of toilsome

as in difficult

requiring considerable physical or mental effort faced with the toilsome task of cleaning out her deceased father's homestead

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in challenging

requiring much time, effort, or careful attention this is the most toilsome part of the construction, so we'll go slowly to make sure we're doing it right

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 toilsome Meanwhile, Republicans lacked the votes to pass anything so their amendments tended to be trollish and toilsome fliers meant to either own the libs or just annoy the legislators. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, 9 Aug. 2022 Though the third quarter was significantly better for Netflix than its previous quarter, the company signaled that there could be toilsome times ahead. — Natalie Jarvey, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Oct. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for toilsome

Adjective

Jarman, who came in as the defending champion on the event, put together a more difficult routine but was nicked by judges for his execution.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
This is the last remaining game on the schedule that should be very difficult.

— David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

Such calculations are part of a wider effort to understand why molecular simulations remain challenging.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
But the shift in college athletics has required an internal reconciling that is even more challenging than the external education.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of challenging

Adjective

Like SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, many founders in tech have moonshot performance pay packages, in which rigorous stock price growth is tied to massive pay hurdles.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Every travel story is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of travel products.

— Liz Knueven, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of rigorous

Adjective

And as routine tasks are automated, workers could lose opportunities to develop the experience needed for more demanding work.

— Lindsay Dodgson, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
The Sun enters your 12th House, drawing your attention toward rest, reflection, privacy, unfinished matters, and everything easier to hear when the outside world becomes less demanding.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of demanding

Adjective

There’s too much here to be effectively explored in a feature, even a 131-minute one whose length is all the more impressive given how arduous stop-motion is as a process.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Creative endeavor, in the space of a few hours, flashes its many faces, arduous and sexy, fleeting and fun.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of arduous

Adjective

In a century where the lives of billions are defined by chronic disease, demographic change, and digital systems, China has become one of the central proving grounds for some of the hardest issues in global health.

— Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Next year's public spending review — when the government sets future budgets for departments and public services — could be even harder for lawmakers who appear averse to any cuts.

— Ian King, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of hard

Adjective

The policy update, applicable to all reservations booked on or after November 20, is designed to streamline the Airbnb experience after a slew of customer complaints about unclear house rules and laborious demands by property hosts.

— Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
Heffers supplied libraries and established reading clubs, Blackwell’s undertook the difficult and laborious task of sending books to POWs during the Second World War.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of laborious

Browse Nearby Words

toils

toilsome

token

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Style

“Toilsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toilsome. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of toilsome

adjective

Example Sentences

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