drudge

1 of 2

verb

ˈdrəj 

drudged; drudging

intransitive verb

: to do hard, menial, or monotonous work

transitive verb

: to force to do hard, menial, or monotonous work

drudger noun

drudge

2 of 2

noun

1

: one who is obliged to do menial work

2

: one whose work is routine and boring

3

: menial or tedious labor

Synonyms of drudge

Verb

• labor
• struggle
• strive
• work
• toil
• endeavor

Noun

• laborer
• worker

Examples of drudge in a Sentence

Verb

factory workers who must drudge all day at repetitive tasks

Noun

She was tired of working as an office drudge.

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Knowing too much, or focusing on inconsequential or irrelevant health metrics could lead you to spend unnecessary money or drudge up extra health anxiety. —David Oliver, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2026

Some of his inventions represent years of ceaseless, drudging experiment. —Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 14 Feb. 2026

Noun

What is the return for the employee, e.g. less drudge work, faster decisions, more time for higher-value tasks? —Stephen Wunker, Forbes.com, 22 Mar. 2026

Although free labor can help a candidate win, volunteers are also seen as a source of risk, best restricted to such drudge work as phone banking or door knocking. —Charles Duhigg, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English druggen

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

circa 1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for drudge

• budge
• frage
• fudge
• grudge
• judge
• mudge
• nudge
• rudge
• sludge
• smudge
• trudge
• adjudge

Kids Definition

drudge

1 of 2 verb

ˈdrəj 

drudged; drudging

: to do hard or dull work

drudger noun

drudge

2 of 2 noun

: a person who drudges