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menial

menial

22 5.4
Work that does not need much skill, like cleaning or carrying things
  • adjective
  • /ˈmiːniəl/
translation icon : poco cualificado
  • Desperation has me applying for the most menial jobs just to have something coming in.
  • menial jobs
  • menial labor
  • menial tasks

He had jobs, but they were kind of menial jobs as well.

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Examples

  • We have been bringing them here for ages to do menial work.

  • For years he did menial work, washing dishes and busing tables, anything he could get.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • I mean, get a job or something, you know, even a menial job at this point.

  • I hate to see you at menial tasks.

  • He had jobs, but they were kind of menial jobs as well.

  • There are always going to be menial chores that can be done without much instruction.

    Blog text (27)
  • She finds no task too menial.

  • Most able-bodied men work menial jobs, and those who hustle usually barely scrape by.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Now, if you're doing some jobs and I'm talking really menial jobs, then you're not earning that money.

  • After finishing college, she accepted a menial job to gain some work experience.

Synonyms

humble
vsmenial
91 3.4

From a low social rank or simple background

applies to low skill and low prestige routine domestic or manual tasks
lowly
vsmenial
46 4.2

A person of low rank or importance, for example a servant

focuses on tasks that lack skill and prestige
unskilled
vsmenial
11 1.9

A job that does not need special training

adds lack of prestige and routine domestic or manual focus

Antonyms

172 3.5

Having special training and ability to do a job well

116 5.6

People respect it for high quality or important achievements

How Menial

menial
22 5.4
unskilled
11 1.9
routine
263 1.0
professional
3.4

Surface Forms

menial positive

Etymology

Menial comes from an old word meaning 'household', seen in French ménage, because it used to name work done for the home. So a menial job today means low-skill work that serves others or the household.