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Definition of donkeywork

donkeywork

/ˈdɑːŋkiˌwɝːk/
don · key · work
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donkeywork Lexical Profile

donkeywork Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

British The hard, monotonous, or routine part of a job or task that requires considerable effort but little skill.

Example

"The junior researchers did most of the donkeywork, spending weeks entering raw survey data into the spreadsheets."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

dong river
dongle
donkey
donkeywork
donna
donne
donor

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 20th century from 'donkey' and 'work', alluding to the heavy, monotonous physical labor traditionally performed by donkeys as beasts of burden.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Donkeywork. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/donkeywork
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