Synonym Chooser

How is the word assiduous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of assiduous are busy, diligent, industrious, and sedulous. While all these words mean "actively engaged or occupied," assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application.

assiduous practice

When is it sensible to use busy instead of assiduous?

Although the words busy and assiduous have much in common, busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure.

too busy to spend time with the children

When could diligent be used to replace assiduous?

The words diligent and assiduous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, diligent suggests earnest application to some specific object or pursuit.

very diligent in her pursuit of a degree

When would industrious be a good substitute for assiduous?

While in some cases nearly identical to assiduous, industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work.

industrious employees

When can sedulous be used instead of assiduous?

The meanings of sedulous and assiduous largely overlap; however, sedulous implies painstaking and persevering application.

a sedulous investigation of the murder

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of assiduous The irony of the term extension is that Disney, which pushed so hard to keep its own creations out of the public domain, is perhaps our most assiduous exploiter of, yes, the public domain. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2023 Securing the best surviving print of a film often required assiduous detective work. Joshua Hunt, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 Maestro centers on Cooper’s assiduous show of respect for Bernstein — Cooper meticulously enacts Bernstein’s rise to celebrity while sympathetically balancing his hotshot, wunderkind arrogance with the physical ravages of time. Armond White, National Review, 22 Dec. 2023 Saved Stories The renowned television producer Norman Lear, who died yesterday at 101, pursued his craft with an assiduous fervor throughout his seven decades in the entertainment industry. Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2023 See all Example Sentences for assiduous 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assiduous
Adjective
  • Herbert is way too talented, too good an athlete, too intelligent, too diligent and too well-respected by his colleagues not to succeed.
    Mirjam Swanson, Orange County Register, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Be diligent about knowing the state of your employees.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The French biochemicals company’s fortunes began to shift in recent years, especially after securing $15.8 million in funding in 2023 and attracting the attention of Citizens of Humanity—one of Orta’s more engaged and proactive clients.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 27 Jan. 2025
  • The brain of a neurodivergent person is wired for passions and novelty, which trigger the motivation to start and stay engaged with that interesting task, Nordmeyer said.
    Kristen Rogers, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Zoom in: In December, Indianapolis International Airport announced that more than 10 million people traveled through the airport in 2024, a new record. More than 2.8 million people flew through the Indy airport in June, July and August, marking the busiest summer in the airport's history.
    Justin L. Mack, Axios, 22 Jan. 2025
  • And the 2025 awards ceremony could turn out to be a pretty busy night for him: Noah is also serving as a producer for the show, and could potentially need to get up and give an acceptance speech as one of this year’s nominees.
    Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2025

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Thesaurus Entries Near assiduous

Cite this Entry

“Assiduous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assiduous. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on assiduous

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