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 Amid this totalizing assault, the nutria’s assiduous gnawing may seem a relatively mild insult; in the state’s coastal-threat index, the nutria would come in sixth place. Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025 Record sales were up, and due to his assiduous efforts, Colonel never tired of reminding Snow, all sorts of new, high-paying opportunities in radio and television were starting to open up. Jem Aswad, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025 Astronomy has lost one of its most assiduous calculators of eclipses with the passing of astronomer Fred Espenak. Joe Rao, Space.com, 3 June 2025 For Britain’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, the trade deal would offer vindication for his assiduous cultivation of Mr. Trump. Ana Swanson, New York Times, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for assiduous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assiduous
Adjective
  • If a separate closet or dresser outside the bathroom is unavailable to you, then Trosclair advises being diligent in cycling through your linens and washing them regularly to fight any mildewing, molding, or weathering from the moisture.
    Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Look and Life passed on the story of the My Lai massacre (originally called the Pinkville massacre), but thanks to the diligent startup Dispatch News Service, an alternative news agency, Hersh’s exposé made it onto the front pages of more than 30 papers across the country.
    Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Tug-of-war also channels a dog’s natural instincts of capturing prey, keeping them engaged.
    Kelsey Monstrola, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Swift and Travis, both 35, became engaged in August 2023.
    Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Panouses advises his clients to use intermediaries where possible and claim their prizes on busy news days, such as Election Day, to avoid coverage.
    Safiyah Riddle, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
  • This ought to be enough to keep you busy for a little while.
    Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Assiduous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assiduous. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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