drudge

[druhj]

noun

1. a person who does menial, distasteful, dull, or hard work.

2. a person who works in a routine, unimaginative way.

verb (used without object)

drudged, drudging 

1. to perform menial, distasteful, dull, or hard work.

   Synonyms: slave, plod, grub, hack, toil

drudge

/ drʌdʒ /

noun

1. a person, such as a servant, who works hard at wearisome menial tasks

verb

1. (intr) to toil at such tasks

Other Word Forms

• drudgingly adverb
• drudger noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of drudge¹

1485–95; compare OE man's name Drycghelm helmet maker, equivalent to drycg (akin to drēogan to work) + helm helm ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of drudge¹

C16: perhaps from druggen to toil

Example Sentences

But if the new lines go through for 2026, they could pit long-serving older members of the Texas delegation against younger newcomers, drudging up existing tensions in the Democratic Party over age and seniority.

From Salon

For most people, each day has become a drudging cycle of searching for bread and water and waiting in lines.

From Seattle Times

It is drudging up generations of visceral trauma, especially in Pittsburgh – the city scarred by the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.

From Seattle Times

Ultimately, this revolution may just reduce drudge work and the number of billable hours spent on relatively simple tasks, freeing people to focus more on lawyering.

From New York Times

“It takes away the drudge work,” he said.

From New York Times