Synonyms of sedulous

sedulous

adjective

ˈse-jə-ləs 

as in diligent

involved in often constant activity

an impressively sedulous suitor, he was constantly sending her flowers and other tokens of his affection

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Recent Examples of sedulous

Someone so sedulous deserved a little aid from the pharmacy. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026

Released in September 1975, the album’s sedulous world-building broke ground after an unexpected studio visit from co-founder Syd Barrett, who had departed Pink Floyd several years earlier on account of mental-health concerns. — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025

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

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

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