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

Examples 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 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 At the heart of the new museum is its 60,000-piece archive, which Armstrong assembled over decades of assiduous record-keeping and tape-recording. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 20 Sep. 2023 See all Example Sentences for assiduous 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assiduous
Adjective
  • The company prides itself on its diligent authentication process, ensuring that every item sold is 100% genuine.
    Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024
  • As your wealth compounds, diligent legacy planning grows increasingly vital.
    Brian Niksa, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Both professors caution that adverse weather could reduce voter turnout, especially among less politically engaged voters who may skip voting due to rain or snow.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
  • In turn, this leads to greater success, stronger relationships and a more loyal, engaged workforce.
    Krystyna Larrave, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Lines at downtown precincts were busy and people who have been inundated with out-of-town organizers and ads for months could be heard speculating about the results on their cellphones, anxious to see a conclusion to the contest.
    Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
  • At Orr Elementary School in Fort Smith, workers were busy Monday both outside and inside cleaning up damage and assessing the origin of the problem after water flooded at least part of the building.
    Penny Weaver, arkansasonline.com, 5 Nov. 2024

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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 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on assiduous

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