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 Twenty-five years before Rabiot’s move to Juventus, another industrious French central midfielder had crossed the Alps to hone his trade during a five-year spell in Turin. Tom Williams, New York Times, 9 June 2025 In one memorable scene, the industrious little girl wanders out of a laundromat while Lu is off looking for more dough, finding her way into an open house for a multimillion dollar brownstone nearby. Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2025 Together with ticks, these industrious rodents help spread a disease that affects hundreds of thousands every year. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025 Today, this San Francisco staple is known as the birthplace of Irish coffee in the U.S. and continues to boast the same delicious recipe made by industrious bartenders in a charming old-timey setting. Nadia Lopez, Axios, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for industrious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for industrious
Adjective
  • Although resilience often looks like luck or good character, the ability to prevent or reduce losses from any type of risk entails careful planning and diligent efforts.
    Louis Gritzo, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • The group was not always diligent about following military directives.
    Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Unlike other collabs or license deals where a celebrity or brand just adds their logo to a product, J Balvin has been very engaged at every step of the process.
    Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • After Goldman placed a veil on Hilliker, the engaged couple entered a room full of their friends cheering them on.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Why Family Fitness Works: Fun, Consistency, and Motivation Getting the whole family active can feel like a challenge, especially with the busy nature of life.
    William Jones, USA Today, 10 July 2025
  • Called Artificial Intelligence for Managing Integrated Environmental Elements, or Aimee, the tech is meant to assist air traffic controllers at busy international hubs.
    Adrienne Bernhard, Scientific American, 10 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Industrious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/industrious. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on industrious

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