Definition

Describing something that requires a lot of hard work and effort; very labor-intensive.

Example

The toilful task of building the house took several months to complete.

Comparatives & Superlatives

Conversation

Have you noticed how toilful this project has been?

Yeah, it really takes a lot of effort to keep up with everything.

I didn't expect it to be so toilful when we started.

Me neither, but seeing the results makes it worth it.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Toilful → It is formed from "toil" (from Old French *toiler*, meaning to labor or work hard) and "-ful" (meaning full of). The word "toilful" means full of toil or characterized by hard work.

Memory Tip

Think of 'toil' as hard work, and remember that 'toilful' describes something that is full of hard work.

Visually Confused Words