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
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
What started as a routine but laborious day of amendment voting, in a process called vote-a-rama, spiraled into an all-night slog as Republican leaders bought time to shore up support.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 1 July 2025
What started as a routine but laborious day of amendment voting, in a process called vote-a-rama, spiraled into a round-the-clock slog as Republican leaders were buying time to shore up support.
—Lisa Mascaro, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for laborious
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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
What started as a routine but laborious day of amendment voting, in a process called vote-a-rama, spiraled into an all-night slog as Republican leaders bought time to shore up support.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 1 July 2025
What started as a routine but laborious day of amendment voting, in a process called vote-a-rama, spiraled into a round-the-clock slog as Republican leaders were buying time to shore up support.
—Lisa Mascaro, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 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 20 Aug. 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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