MOIL Synonyms: 226 Similar and Opposite Words

moil 1 of 2

noun

Definition of moil

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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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

moil

2 of 2

verb

ˈmȯi(-ə)l

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

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

Noun

The Canadian singer caused a commotion with her ensemble, showing off a head-to-toe Alaïa ensemble from the upcoming Archetypes spring 2027 collection.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 29 Aug. 2026
There was no illness or injury, Krauss said, but the dog seemed ready to step away from the crowds and commotion.

— Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of commotion

Noun

Katarzyna Nowakowska, Poland's deputy minister for family, labor and social policy, told the AP that the most vulnerable applicants still receive direct help from the state and any other refugees needing support should turn to social workers.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
As the Lindsay Clancy murder trial approaches closing arguments, jurors will soon be asked to decide whether the former labor-and-delivery nurse is criminally responsible for killing her three small children in January 2023.

— Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of labor

Verb

Three days later, the team brought in Moody, the former Michigan standout who has also struggled at times in his young career.

— Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Restaurants and private grocery stores are struggling to stay open because of higher supply costs and lower consumption.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of struggle

Verb

Much has changed on the ground in Chicago since Ahmed left town for Dubai as investigations swirled around him.

— Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Starting Friday, the strong wind shear that’s been swirling in the Atlantic all season and keeping most storms at bay is expected to pick up again, wearing away at Dolly.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of swirl

Noun

The smallest robot was the most agile of the three, and the largest one was the best at maintaining its trajectory when faced with disturbances meant to throw it off course.

— Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026
On Thursday a tropical disturbance managed to overcome headwinds to become a tropical storm.

— Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of disturbance

Noun

Its architecture could contribute to future efforts involving inexpensive rockets produced in much larger quantities.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Poor Anton has been left out of the drama all day, an effort by Billie and Samir to prevent an already bad futzing from escalating to something severe, and that’s never where Anton likes to be.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of effort

Verb

Ashcroft keeps the pace steady and the atmosphere churning, while Deming conjures a more generic but perfectly effective air of menace in damp shades of brown and teal.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Peaceful, lush green valleys are transformed in an instant with the violence of churning water.

— Matteo Moschella, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of churn

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moiety

moil

moiled

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“Moil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moil. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of moil

noun

verb

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