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definitions

toilful

[toil-fuh l]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR toilful ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

characterized by or involving toil; laborious; toilsome.

Origin of toilful

First recorded in 1590–1600; toil1 + -ful
Related formstoil·ful·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for toilful

uphill, taxing, arduous, demanding, exhausting, laborious, heavy, troublesome, tough, terrible, complicated, serious, rough, Herculean, hard, mean, operose, toilsome, wicked, effortful

Examples from the Web for toilful

Historical Examples of toilful

  • They were slow, but we could trace their toilful progress up the lower valleys.

    A Set of Six

    Joseph Conrad

  • In vain they sought them through the toilful path and beneath the burning sun; the kine were nowhere to be found.

  • During their slow, toilful walks she appeared to be dragging with her for a penance the burden of that infirm bulk.

    To-morrow

    Joseph Conrad

  • Sighing and groaning, as if with great reluctance, the tugboat began again its toilful course up the stream.

    The Quest

    Frederik van Eeden

  • Again and again, with toilful searching, I recalled that apparition.