Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of sedulous are assiduous, busy, diligent, and industrious. While all these words mean "actively engaged or occupied," sedulous implies painstaking and persevering application.

a sedulous investigation of the murder

Where would assiduous be a reasonable alternative to sedulous?

The synonyms assiduous and sedulous are sometimes interchangeable, but assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application.

assiduous practice

When can busy be used instead of sedulous?

The meanings of busy and sedulous largely overlap; however, busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure.

too busy to spend time with the children

When is diligent a more appropriate choice than sedulous?

Although the words diligent and sedulous have much in common, diligent suggests earnest application to some specific object or pursuit.

very diligent in her pursuit of a degree

In what contexts can industrious take the place of sedulous?

The words industrious and sedulous can be used in similar contexts, but industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work.

industrious employees

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 sedulous Trushant Mehta is a philomath and a sedulous and inquisitive tech evangelist. Trushant Mehta, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025 Putting festivals like this on stage is clearly just one part of the slow, sedulous work of relationship building and repair. Jeremy Eichler, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Mar. 2023 Among the advantages that billionaires receive due to their wealth is sedulous defenses by journalists and other camp followers. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2022 Led by Martin Amis, their ranks included Julian Barnes, Salman Rushdie—and a sedulous outlier named A.N. Wilson. Brenda Cronin, WSJ, 28 Oct. 2022 The skirmish over Arista was the second great battle of Clive’s life, as a sedulous Vanity Fair account of the affair put it. Amy X. Wang, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedulous
Adjective
  • In normal times, the agency acts like a loving but diligent parent, dispensing money at regular intervals to insure the kids don’t spend it all at once.
    Andy Kroll, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
  • In recent years, officials have been far more diligent about timekeeping, leading to a rise in the volume of stoppage time played.
    Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Among the engaged couples, the duo appeared to be the strongest despite early hiccups regarding lifestyle and finances.
    Giana Levy, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Unlike a movie, show, or song, reading a novel from cover to cover demands time and sustained attention to stay engaged throughout the slowest chapters and extend empathy to flawed, morally gray protagonists.
    Jenna Ryu, SELF, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • As a result, his street gets extremely busy in the weeks leading up to Halloween.
    Endia Fontanez, AZCentral.com, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Do Not Disturb will be another major moment for the 2024 Rolling Stone Future of Music digital cover star, who’s already had a busy 2025.
    Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sedulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sedulous. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sedulous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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