Drudge — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈdrəj/

Meaning & Definition of Drudge

Drudge (verb)

  1. to do hard, menial, or monotonous work
  2. to force to do hard, menial, or monotonous work

Drudge (noun)

  1. one who is obliged to do menial work
  2. one whose work is routine and boring
  3. menial or tedious labor

Drudge (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person who does very hard or dull work

    "worked like a drudge at a low-paying job that had few benefits"

    similar: dogsbody (chiefly British), drone, drudger, foot soldier, grub, grubber, grunt, laborer, peon, plugger, slave, slogger, toiler, worker
    related: workhorse, serf
    near: goldbrick, shirker, idler, lazybones, loafer, slouch, slug, sluggard

  2. very hard or unpleasant work

    "it took hours of pure drudge to sort through the junk in the basement"

    similar: donkeywork, drudgery, fatigue, grind, labor, moil, slavery, sweat, toil, travail
    related: spadework, effort, exertion, pains, struggle, trouble, chore, duty, job, obligation, responsibility, routine, tedium, treadmill
    opposite: fun, play
    near: decompression, ease, leisure, relaxation, repose, rest, amusement, dalliance, diversion, entertainment, recreation, sport, dormancy, idleness, inactivity, inertia, inertness, dallying, goldbricking, loafing, lolling, lounging

Drudge (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to devote serious and sustained effort

    "factory workers who must drudge all day at repetitive tasks"

    similar: bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), endeavor, fag, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, tug, work, sweat blood
    related: apply (oneself), buckle (down), dig in, hammer (away), knuckle down, pitch in, attack, drive, essay, try, exercise, exert, overexert, overwork, eke out, grind (out), put out, scrabble, scratch, trudge, wade
    near: break, ease (up), let up, slacken, bum, chill, dally, dillydally, footle, goldbrick, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, lounge, shirk, slack (off), veg out, bask, loll, relax, repose, rest, unwind, dabble, doodle, fool around, fribble, goof (around), hang, hang about (British), mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Drudge

The most common words with a similar meaning to Drudge:

Chiefly British: dogsbody
drone, drudger, foot soldier, grub, grubber, grunt, laborer, peon, plugger, slave, slogger, toiler, worker, donkeywork, drudgery, fatigue, grind, labor, moil, slavery, sweat, toil, travail, bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), endeavor, fag, hump, hustle, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slog, strain, strive, struggle, tug, work

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Drudge

Words with the opposite meaning of Drudge:

fun, play

Related Words for Drudge

workhorse, serf, spadework, effort, exertion, pains, trouble, chore, duty, job, obligation, responsibility, routine, tedium, treadmill, apply (oneself), buckle (down), dig in, hammer (away), knuckle down, pitch in, attack, drive, essay, try, exercise, exert, overexert, overwork, eke out

Near Antonyms of Drudge

goldbrick, shirker, idler, lazybones, loafer, slouch, slug, sluggard, decompression, ease, leisure, relaxation, repose, rest, amusement, dalliance, diversion, entertainment, recreation, sport, dormancy, idleness, inactivity, inertia, inertness, dallying, goldbricking, loafing, lolling, lounging

Word Forms of Drudge

Inflections: drudged, drudging

Derived words: drudger (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Drudge

Middle English druggen

First known use: 14th centuryi

Frequently Asked Questions about Drudge

What does "Drudge" mean?

"Drudge" means to do hard, menial, or monotonous work. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to do hard, menial, or monotonous work. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Drudge"?

Other words for "Drudge" include dogsbody, drone, drudger, foot soldier, grub, grubber, grunt and laborer. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Drudge" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Drudge"?

There are 78 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Drudge". Common alternatives include dogsbody, drone, drudger, foot soldier, grub, grubber, grunt, laborer, peon and plugger.

What is the opposite of "Drudge"?

Antonyms of "Drudge" include fun and play. Near antonyms include goldbrick, shirker, idler and lazybones.

How do you use "Drudge" in a sentence?

Examples of "Drudge" in a sentence: "worked like a drudge at a low-paying job that had few benefits"; "it took hours of pure drudge to sort through the junk in the basement"; "factory workers who must drudge all day at repetitive tasks".

Is "Drudge" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Drudge" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Drudge"?

"Drudge" is pronounced /ˈdrəj/.

What is the origin of the word "Drudge"?

"Drudge" comes from Middle English druggen. First known use: 14th centuryi.