1
as in diligent
involved in often constant activity
the volunteers have been commendably laborious in their cleanup of the beach
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
the laborious task of cleaning up the oil spill
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3
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention
that report is the product of months of laborious research
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of laborious
Under the pilot, the Genie software program will use generative AI (that leverages machine learning models trained on vast datasets) as well as agentic AI (systems designed to act autonomously and take actions with minimal human intervention) to do much of the laborious work.
—
Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 July 2025
As recognition of Bechdel’s talents grew, her methods became more laborious, her subject matter more agonizing.
—Charlie Tyson, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
The shows make clear not only how laborious everyday existence once was, but also how much skill and ingenuity were required just to address our basic needs.
—Sophia Stewart, The Atlantic, 1 Aug. 2025
The journalist said that garments are likely taken for granted because the Industrial Revolution made fashion less laborious—ergo no longer exclusive to the elite.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for laborious
Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 July 2025
As recognition of Bechdel’s talents grew, her methods became more laborious, her subject matter more agonizing.
—Charlie Tyson, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
The shows make clear not only how laborious everyday existence once was, but also how much skill and ingenuity were required just to address our basic needs.
—Sophia Stewart, The Atlantic, 1 Aug. 2025
The journalist said that garments are likely taken for granted because the Industrial Revolution made fashion less laborious—ergo no longer exclusive to the elite.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for laborious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laborious
Adjective
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Imagine automating your invoicing, email replies or appointment scheduling with an AI that operates like a diligent virtual assistant, and doing it without sending any data to the cloud or paying per-action fees.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
20 Aug. 2025
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Here is an opportunity to compliment and recognize your neighbors for their diligent work on maintaining their property.—
Andrea Manes,
Oc Register,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Palace’s recruitment strategy depends on selling players, however difficult such deals are to stomach.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
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Chapa said at the news conference that making a final decision was difficult.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Taking the most challenging courses available — like AP, IB, honors, or dual enrollment classes — signals preparedness for college-level work.—
Liz Doe Stone,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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Getting the Supreme Court to take this case at all is going to be extremely challenging.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The 2025 college football offseason was busy for the Louisville Cardinals and Kentucky Wildcats.—
Ray Padilla,
The Courier-Journal,
28 Aug. 2025
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Getty Images Swifties have been busy celebrating Taylor Swift’s engagement to Travis Kelce, but one group of fans—the Gaylors—haven’t taken the news so well.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Students must fall below an income cap and meet Vanderbilt's rigorous admissions standards to get in.—
The Tennessean,
The Tennessean,
28 Aug. 2025
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There are any number of predictable ways this scenario might have developed but the film is rigorous in its rejection of clichés or simple fixes.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Baldwin has done it while playing the most difficult and demanding position on the diamond, mentally in terms of daily meetings and film study, and physically from the toll of working beneath pads in the summer heat and getting nicked up from foul tips, collisions and occasional wayward swings.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
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This has come as a result of America being too demanding and being very political.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Impeachment is an inherently political act, as historians and legal scholars have long attested; Green takes the long view that measures like his build an engaged opposition capable of facing down what has thus far been an untrammeled seizure of executive power by the far right.—
Chris Lehmann,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
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As the years ticked by in the 2010s, Brian became less and less engaged onstage.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Unlike Trump, they aren’t charmed by the Kremlin’s tough guy.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
14 Aug. 2025
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Even if increasing competition and financial obstruction have influenced summer recruitment, making this season’s challenges tougher, the confidence in Unai Emery and Villa’s football department remains unerring.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Laborious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laborious. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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