Synonyms of laborious

laborious

adjective

lə-ˈbȯr-ē-əs 

1

as in diligent

involved in often constant activity

the volunteers have been commendably laborious in their cleanup of the beach

Synonyms & Similar Words

• diligent
• busy
• engaged
• employed
• industrious
• assiduous
• occupied
• active
• working
• preoccupied
• sedulous
• bustling
• immersed
• hopping
• tied-up
• concentrating
• absorbed
• focused
• vigorous
• buzzing
• operational
• lively
• engrossed
• animated
• vibrant
• humming
• going
• energetic
• operating
• functional
• operative
• functioning
• indefatigable
• tireless
• untiring
• knee-deep
• swamped
• flourishing
• hardworking
• thriving
• intent
• happening
• astir
• running
• living
• alive

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• idle
• unemployed
• inactive
• free
• unoccupied
• lifeless
• slow
• sleepy
• latent
• passive
• unbusy
• quiescent
• dormant
• dull
• inert
• asleep
• dead
• inoperative
• nonoperating

2

as in difficult

requiring considerable physical or mental effort

the laborious task of cleaning up the oil spill

Synonyms & Similar Words

• difficult
• challenging
• tough
• rigorous
• hard
• formidable
• demanding
• complicated
• arduous
• heavy
• effortful
• strenuous
• rough
• rugged
• toilsome
• sweaty
• exhausting
• painful
• grueling
• severe
• backbreaking
• herculean
• intricate
• exacting
• testing
• tall
• uphill
• murderous
• complex
• stiff
• serious
• killer
• annoying
• problematic
• stressful
• hellacious
• moiling
• elusive
• stubborn
• onerous
• tricky
• burdensome
• pick-and-shovel
• Augean
• grim
• oppressive
• brutal
• troublesome
• involved
• abstruse
• abstract
• thorny
• irksome
• labored
• recondite
• insoluble
• hairy
• bruising
• opaque
• knotty
• tight
• vexatious
• strict
• trying
• bothersome
• ticklish
• stringent
• spiny
• distressing
• taxing
• cruel
• grievous
• inhuman

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easy
• simple
• effortless
• cheap
• light
• soft
• mindless
• undemanding
• facile
• uncomplicated
• manageable
• clear
• elementary
• doable
• achievable
• smooth
• gentle
• painless
• soothing
• relaxed
• comforting
• accessible
• friendly
• user-friendly
• idiotproof

3

as in challenging

requiring much time, effort, or careful attention

that report is the product of months of laborious research

Synonyms & Similar Words

• challenging
• difficult
• demanding
• arduous
• onerous
• burdensome
• tough
• hard
• exacting
• toilsome
• grueling
• taxing
• strenuous
• formidable
• killing
• persnickety
• testing
• rigorous
• oppressive
• herculean
• rough
• stringent
• rugged
• stiff
• trying
• strict
• severe
• rigid
• stern

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• light
• undemanding
• easy
• simple
• smooth
• unchallenging
• effortless
• facile
• nondemanding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of laborious

This process eliminates the costly and laborious step of sorting plastic waste before recycling. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026

Additionally, tracing back what infected someone can be a laborious process. — ABC News, 9 July 2026

Hader survived a laborious outing to strand the bases loaded in the ninth, Paredes tied the game with a solo home run in the eighth and Walker won it with a three-run shot in the 10th. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 29 June 2026

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Company is racing to mass manufacture humanoid robots developed by its subsidiary, Boston Dynamics, so that the robotic workers can start taking over certain laborious tasks in automotive factories and other workplaces. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026