worker

noun

ˈwər-kər How to pronounce worker (audio)
Definition of workernext
1
as in laborer
a person who does very hard or dull work a champion of the rights of the farm workers who pick the nation's fruits and vegetables

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in employee
one who works for another for wages or a salary a factory owner who is known for his fair and generous treatment of his workers

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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 worker In new measures, the army said that 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. — Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026 One psychologist who is also autistic thinks the billionaire has a point, but says that neurodivergent workers’ advantage might not be what people think. — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026 Osborn launched into a discussion about uplifting workers and building bridges with both parties to bring about real change. — Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026 At least six people were injured in the attack on Vinnytsia, the SES said, with four people -- among them three emergency workers -- also injured in the attack in Kharkiv. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for worker
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worker
  1. laborer
  2. employee
  3. slave
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
  • Flock employees urged the company to adopt stronger security after a 2024 breach.
    — Douglas MacMillan, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The company has about 40 employees across San Francisco and New York and plans to reach around 75 by the end of the year.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of employee
Noun
  • Black public figures mingle with slave forts and the most vaunted creations of high art.
    — Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Also a list of the true names and addresses of all former slaves, along with their actual occupations and 1858 yearly incomes, which, surprising no one, were right on par with the incomes of similar whites.
    — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of slave

Phrases Containing worker

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worked up
worker
workers
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Cite this Entry

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

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about worker

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