1
as in diligent
involved in often constant activity
the volunteers have been commendably laborious in their cleanup of the beach
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
the laborious task of cleaning up the oil spill
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention
that report is the product of months of laborious research
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 laborious
State officials and elections experts reject the allegations as baseless, pointing to California’s generous mail voting rules, laborious signature checks and a predictable ‘red mirage’ that initially favors Republicans.
—
Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
Having to subpoena data would make enforcement far more laborious and less efficient.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 1 June 2026
For how vibrant and buoyant the film’s cinematography, production design, and costume design are, the script and its laborious dialogue are twice as leaden.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 23 May 2026
When setting up new Windows PCs or temporary virtual machines, the biometric data may not be so readily available, and setting up a passkey every time can be laborious.
—Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for laborious
Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
Having to subpoena data would make enforcement far more laborious and less efficient.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 1 June 2026
For how vibrant and buoyant the film’s cinematography, production design, and costume design are, the script and its laborious dialogue are twice as leaden.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 23 May 2026
When setting up new Windows PCs or temporary virtual machines, the biometric data may not be so readily available, and setting up a passkey every time can be laborious.
—Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for laborious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laborious
Adjective
-
So, that conversation was interesting given Adem’s diligent research and my memory.—
Jim Ryan,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
Some information has been presented in court filings or uncovered by journalists and by one especially diligent state legislator, Anna Eskamani, from Orlando.—
Eric Schlosser,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
The verdict was delivered amid difficult personal circumstances for Mette-Marit, Hoiby’s mother, who needs a lung transplant for pulmonary fibrosis.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
-
Otherwise, those prospects start becoming large contracts that stand more difficult to move or aggregate.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
The agreement calls for an immediate end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, and sets out expectations for the next phase of talks, which will tackle more challenging issues, mainly the future of Iran's nuclear program.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
This creates a particularly challenging environment for those working in contributor welfare.—
Emma Pringle,
Deadline,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
Cohen said Humble Robotics is working to make cabless vehicles applicable to public roads, particularly those surrounding the busy ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
-
If there is a busy period during the day, let children know in advance and then follow through by setting aside time later to connect.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
Adjective
-
McIlroy bogeyed 18 to finish at one under, squarely in the hunt, considering the tough conditions limited scoring.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
-
Parker, a former Eagles assistant, has risen quickly through the NFL coaching ranks and now faces a tough task with a roster full of new faces and high expectations.—
Briana Aldridge,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
The formula is more demanding than most people realize, and the research behind it suggests close friendships may matter more for long-term health than almost anything else.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 June 2026
-
Why do humanoids still struggle The problem is that battlefields are among the most demanding environments imaginable.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
For the fathers who have flocked to his page, his messages about continuing to show up as an engaged parent have clearly struck a chord.—
Christian Dashiell Published,
Parents,
18 June 2026
-
More importantly, the entire team became more engaged, decisive and effective.—
Kent Merrell,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
This is why getting a high-definition picture of a leader — through rigorous assessment, psychometric profiling, structured reference gathering, and behavioural history — is not an optional extra in the selection process.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
Every gas article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance products.—
Kelsey Neubauer,
CNBC,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laborious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laborious. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
