laborious
adjective
la·bo·ri·ous
lə-ˈbȯr-ē-əs 
1
a
: involving, requiring, or characterized by hard and sustained effort : arduous
Overland travel was not an adventurous communal leap, but a laborious, individual trek.—
Daniel J. Boorstin
Daniel J. BoorstinMaking a telescope mirror is a long and laborious process.—David Devoss and Eric Sander
David Devoss and Eric Sander
b
: characterized by long, detailed elaboration : tedious
Much of the middle of the book is a laborious account of the scouring of the ocean floor that led to the discovery of the Titanic.—The Economist
The Economist2
: devoted to labor : industrious
We have the greatest riches, the greatest fertility, … the most laborious population.—Joseph Conrad
Joseph Conrad
laboriously
adverb
laboriousness
noun
Examples of laborious in a Sentence
a slow and laborious process
the volunteers have been commendably laborious in their cleanup of the beach
Recent Examples on the Web
Even the new constitution of Hungary has been amended 14 times by Fidesz without public debate—something impossible in the United States, where constitutional amendments have been comparatively rare, requiring not only broad congressional approval but a laborious process of state ratification.
—BÁlint Madlovics, Foreign Affairs, 10 Feb. 2025
Remembering the Sojourner Motor Fleet (Black Perspectives) by Travis Wright
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee’s organizing efforts in the South were both dangerous and laborious.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 21 Jan. 2025
The ever-growing demand for brand and marketing content has created a need for products that can make managing those creative assets less laborious.
—Tim Baysinger, Axios, 9 Jan. 2025
There’s a satisfying rhythm to these tasks, and the game makes even the most laborious chores feel worthwhile.
—George Yang, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laborious
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BÁlint Madlovics, Foreign Affairs, 10 Feb. 2025
Remembering the Sojourner Motor Fleet (Black Perspectives) by Travis Wright
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee’s organizing efforts in the South were both dangerous and laborious.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 21 Jan. 2025
The ever-growing demand for brand and marketing content has created a need for products that can make managing those creative assets less laborious.
—Tim Baysinger, Axios, 9 Jan. 2025
There’s a satisfying rhythm to these tasks, and the game makes even the most laborious chores feel worthwhile.
—George Yang, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laborious
Cite this Entry
“Laborious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laborious. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
laborious
adjective
la·bo·ri·ous
lə-ˈbōr-ē-əs
-ˈbȯr-
1
: devoted to work : industrious
2
: requiring hard effort
laboriously
adverb
laboriousness
noun
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