drudge
Weary, thankless worker
A drudge is someone who does hard, tedious, or menial work: She felt like a drudge, scrubbing floors while others relaxed.
The word emphasizes monotony and lack of recognition rather than skill.
To drudge is to labor at such tasks.
Drudgery is the work itself—exhausting, unglamorous toil that must simply be done.
One who works hard
- workhorseReliable, tireless producer
- menialLowly and unskilled
- peonIndentured low-status worker
- servantOne employed to serve
slave · hack · plodder · grunt · serf · lackey · flunky · underling
Crush into particles
- slogLaborious persistent effort
- laborStrenuous effort; also childbirth
- sweatMoisture from skin pores
- exertionVigorous physical effort
struggle · travail · moil · strain · effort · hardship · donkeywork · legwork
Lacking satisfying payoff
- unappreciatedNot given due recognition
- unfulfillingLacking emotional reward
- unsatisfyingFailing to gratify
- menialLowly and unskilled
lowly · inglorious · unglamorous · invisible · overlooked · undervalued · degrading · humble
Wearisome dullness
- routineRegular sequence of actions
- humdrumLacking variety or excitement
- samenessState of being identical
- repetitionAct of redoing
dullness · boredom · dreariness · plodding · stagnation · predictability · joylessness · weariness
toiler
One who works hard
servant · slave · hack · plodder · grunt · serf · lackey · flunky · underling · minion
grind
Crush into particles
exertion · struggle · travail · moil · strain · effort · hardship · donkeywork · legwork · spadework
unrewarding
Lacking satisfying payoff
- unappreciatedNot given due recognition
- unfulfillingLacking emotional reward
- unsatisfyingFailing to gratify
menial · lowly · inglorious · unglamorous · invisible · overlooked · undervalued · degrading · humble · servile
tedium
Wearisome dullness
- routineRegular sequence of actions
- humdrumLacking variety or excitement
- samenessState of being identical
repetition · dullness · boredom · dreariness · plodding · stagnation · predictability · joylessness · weariness · greyness
- laborerslaborers, day laborer, day labourer, day laborers, manual worker
- lackeyslackey, minion, flunky, underling, gofer
- underlingsunderling, underlings, subordinate, minions, minion
- hard workersant, ants, bee, bees, beaver
- laborlabor, labor union, work, labor force, laborers
- servantsbutler, maid, servant, servants, domestics
drudgeboss
Workplace superior
supervisor · master · overseer · executive · manager
drudgeplay
Recreation or staged drama
leisure · fun · relaxation · recreation · rest