Drudgery Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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drudgery

[ˈdrʌʤəri ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

daily routine

Hard, menial, or dull work; tedious tasks or laborious effort.

Synonyms

chore, grind, labor, toil.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
drudgery	When referring to tasks that are repetitive, boring, and unpleasant, often implying a negative or tedious nature. Every day, the data entry job felt like drudgery She dreaded the drudgery of cleaning the entire house
toil	Describes strenuous, tiring work, often highlighting the physical or mental effort involved. They toiled for hours under the hot sun to finish the project Years of toil finally paid off when she got her breakthrough
labor	Commonly used for work that involves physical exertion, often associated with manual work. Farm workers perform laborious tasks from sunrise to sunset She was hiring extra help to ease the labor of the farm work
grind	Describes a hard or monotonous routine task that requires effort and persistence, often related to work or study. The daily grind of commuting and long office hours was exhausting Students often complain about the grind of studying for exams
chore	Used for routine, usually domestic tasks that might be boring but are required to maintain order or cleanliness. He helps with household chores like washing dishes and taking out the trash Saturday is the day she finishes her chores, including laundry and vacuuming

Examples of usage

The drudgery of washing dishes every night quickly became tiresome.
She was tired of the drudgery of her office job and longed for something more fulfilling.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

work environment

A job or task that is hard, boring, and unpleasant to do.

Synonyms

boredom, monotony, tediousness, tedium.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
drudgery	Use this when referring to hard, menial, and repetitive work that is often seen as physically or mentally exhausting. Farming in the old days involved endless drudgery without modern machinery. He was tired of the drudgery of his desk job.
monotony	Use this when describing something that is tediously repetitive and unchanging, which may lead to a feeling of being stuck in a routine. The monotony of his daily commute was starting to get to him. She tried to add some variety to break the monotony of her schedule.
tedium	This conveys a sense of long, boring, and repetitive tasks, often leading to a feeling of weariness. The tedium of assembling the same part all day was mind-numbing. She was struggling to find motivation amid the tedium of her routine.
boredom	This is appropriate when talking about a lack of interest and excitement, leading to a feeling of dullness. Watching the same movie for the tenth time filled her with boredom. He couldn't stand the boredom of waiting in the long line.
tediousness	This is best used for something that is long, slow, or dull and seems to lack excitement or interest. The tediousness of filing all the reports was almost unbearable. His presentation was marked by its tediousness and lack of engagement.

Examples of usage

The employees were tired of the drudgery of the repetitive tasks at the factory.
He felt trapped in the drudgery of his daily routine.

Translations

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Origin of 'drudgery'

The word 'drudgery' originated in the early 17th century from the Old English word 'drōg-ian', meaning 'to work hard'. Over time, the term evolved to refer to hard, menial work or tedious tasks. The concept of drudgery has been prevalent throughout history, particularly in the context of laborious effort and monotonous tasks.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,403, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

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18400 mowing
18401 implored
18402 idealist
18403 drudgery
18404 poke
18405 uninhabited
18406 sparkled
...