Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of industrious are assiduous, busy, diligent, and sedulous. While all these words mean "actively engaged or occupied," industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work.

industrious employees

When could assiduous be used to replace industrious?

In some situations, the words assiduous and industrious are roughly equivalent. However, assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application.

assiduous practice

When is busy a more appropriate choice than industrious?

While the synonyms busy and industrious are close in meaning, busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure.

too busy to spend time with the children

When can diligent be used instead of industrious?

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

very diligent in her pursuit of a degree

When would sedulous be a good substitute for industrious?

The words sedulous and industrious 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 industrious Now that someone is finally acting, Democrats are pretending the bureaucracy is as industrious and virtuous as Santa’s Workshop and any dollar that gets cut means another kiddie won’t have a Christmas. Nolan Finley, Twin Cities, 4 Mar. 2025 Turn to the gatefold to view the ranking of Hong Kong’s 50 Richest, collated by an industrious team led by wealth editor Jane Ho. Naazneen Karmali, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 Both were industrious strivers at work and strict disciplinarians at home. Danielle Amir Jackson, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2025 Humans’ desire for timber and space for parking lots and shopping centers eventually proved too much for even the most industrious squirrel, and the long emigrations eventually ended. Christine Peterson, Vox, 23 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for industrious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for industrious
Adjective
  • Some brands are diligent about paying fairly and on time, while others entirely ghost after the work is done or almost offensive offer rates.
    Kristen Bousquet, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Some plants germinate readily outdoors, but still need protection from critters, and diligent attention to watering and weeding.
    Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • When these leaders improve, their teams become more engaged and productive.
    Dave Winsborough, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Events like Wednesday’s — Berkshire played one of the PGA Tour’s most prestigious courses in tournament conditions in front of a crowd of hundreds of engaged fans — help push Berkshire toward his goal.
    Bennett Conlin, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Half of the shark detections occurred during the day, a time when beaches are typically busy with human activity.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
  • His eyes widen, a grin breaks out across his face, and for a second, Graham looks like a cross between a kid on Christmas morning and the world’s busiest man finally catching his breath.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Industrious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/industrious. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on industrious

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