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
Growing vanilla bean pods is a laborious process—which means the beans, seeds, and any products made with them (including extracts and ice creams) are understandably pricier than imitation versions.
—
Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2025
Similar to the way Madueke drove at his man without hesitation, those first-time strikes were very welcome after last season, when many actions in and around the penalty area felt a bit too laborious.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Now, humanity stands at a pivotal juncture as the laborious, expensive and high-stakes process of attempting to convert such grand visions into reality is actually underway.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
On top of this, the game’s plodding pace, laborious puzzles, and sluggish character movement left us at the edge of our wits, rather than our seats.
—Echo Apsey, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laborious
Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2025
Similar to the way Madueke drove at his man without hesitation, those first-time strikes were very welcome after last season, when many actions in and around the penalty area felt a bit too laborious.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Now, humanity stands at a pivotal juncture as the laborious, expensive and high-stakes process of attempting to convert such grand visions into reality is actually underway.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
On top of this, the game’s plodding pace, laborious puzzles, and sluggish character movement left us at the edge of our wits, rather than our seats.
—Echo Apsey, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laborious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laborious
Adjective
-
Daria watched their diligent ascent while Andrés studied the map on his phone.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The Hunt After years of diligent saving, a longtime renter with a $300,000 budget weighed whether to take his parents’ advice and return to his childhood building in Elmhurst, or branch out.—
Dan Levin,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Travel could be very difficult to impossible.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 Oct. 2025
-
This Is My Story While Israel and Hamas have accepted the two-phase agreement, many of the more difficult issues have been left unresolved.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The mother of five admitted that being away from her family for long periods of time was challenging, but the sacrifice was necessary for Jordan’s athletic development.—
Nasha Smith,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The second, more challenging phase — aimed at dismantling Hamas and deciding Gaza’s future leadership — has yet to be negotiated.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Perfect for both busy workdays and evenings out, the versatile top is easy to pair with lightwash jeans and a belt, or layered beautifully under blazers and cardigans.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Oct. 2025
-
For less hustle and bustle, busiest avoid traveling Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday.—
Frank Witsil,
Freep.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Here’s how all four teams look heading into their Championship Series, along with some rigorous, confident analysis for each team.—
Grant Brisbee,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Whereas degree programs have to go through rigorous faculty and administrative oversight, which can take years, non-degree programs don’t require the same kind of oversight.—
Chris Quintana,
USA Today,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Some of those ticketholders sued the Astros claiming fraud and demanding refunds.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
13 Oct. 2025
-
This training camp, with a new strength and conditioning staff, the Sabres talked about how demanding practice was and how a long list of players reported to camp in great shape.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Employees stay engaged longer, teams navigate setbacks smoothly and leaders make stronger decisions under pressure.—
Elan Gepner-Dales,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The couple became engaged in August.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Falcons' offense has emerged as one of the toughest in the league, causing multiple turnovers a game.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
-
How self-reflection operates matters because it will always be needed to make wiser choices about our toughest challenges.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Laborious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laborious. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share