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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word busy different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of busy are assiduous, diligent, industrious, and sedulous. While all these words mean "actively engaged or occupied," busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure.

too busy to spend time with the children

When would assiduous be a good substitute for busy?

While in some cases nearly identical to busy, assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application.

assiduous practice

In what contexts can diligent take the place of busy?

The words diligent and busy can be used in similar contexts, but diligent suggests earnest application to some specific object or pursuit.

very diligent in her pursuit of a degree

Where would industrious be a reasonable alternative to busy?

The synonyms industrious and busy are sometimes interchangeable, but industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work.

industrious employees

When could sedulous be used to replace busy?

The words sedulous and busy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 busy
Adjective
But over the course of three busy days, the party did not settle its arguments left over from 2024. David Weigel, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2025 The southeastern province, home to the tech hub Shenzhen, the trade gateway Guangzhou, and some of China's busiest ports, has been particularly hard-hit, economists told the Financial Times. Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
Since its inception, astronomers had busied themselves tracking the apparent movements of the stars, moon and planets relative to an imaginary line running north to south through the observatory, known as a 'meridian'. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 22 June 2025 In the early ’70s, Wilson busied himself with production and writing work on an album by American Spring, a group featuring two former members of the Honeys, his wife Marilyn and her sister Diane. Chris Morris, Variety, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for busy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busy
Adjective
  • 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
  • As the years ticked by in the 2010s, Brian became less and less engaged onstage.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • That kind of book never really interested me as a reader either.
    Fiction Non Fiction August 21, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2025
  • While there remains much to be learned, this may interest others who are dealing with the disorder.
    Harper’s Magazine, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
  • In the heart of Columbia Tusculum, where Cincinnati's oldest neighborhood breathes with vibrant, historic energy, April Combs Mann struck a new kind of chord.
    Hailey Roden, The Enquirer, 31 Aug. 2025
  • The Verdict on Meredith Hayden's Jersey Italian Tomato Toast The straightforwardness of this recipe is reason enough to add it to my regular rotation, but the vibrant flavors are what truly seal the deal.
    Grace Kneebone, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • For a good portion of the audience, Metal Gear Solid Delta will hit all the right notes by being a nice jaunt down memory lane to a time when these ideas and systems were innovative rather than annoying.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
  • The sheer amount of toilet humor — there’s a lot of mucus, snot, and jokes about people drinking piss stuffed into one film — often proves more annoying than fun.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Russian forces now occupy the villages of Zaporizke and Novoheorhiivka, according to DeepState, a group tracking battlefield developments.
    Svitlana Vlasova, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The hotel is seeking to demolish the Odd Fellows Building, built in 1897, and an adjacent one-story garage that currently occupy the site at 211, 213 and 215 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
    Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Modern humans are evolutionary survivors, thriving generation after generation while our ancient relatives died out.
    Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Long renowned for its thriving seafood scene, Massachusetts draws tourists each year to dine on steamers, oysters and New England clam chowder, but this storied state is perhaps best known for its lobster.
    Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s something officious about Alden Ehrenreich.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Jan. 2023
  • Her charming luxury treasure trove has none of that officious chilliness that defines the typical store of its ilk but instead feels like a brocanterie crammed with interesting, unexpected luxury goods from across the world.
    Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 2 Jan. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Busy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busy. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.

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