BUSY Synonyms: 161 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'busy' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of busy are assiduous , diligent , industrious , and sedulous . While all these words mean "actively engaged or occupied," busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure. // too busy to spend time with the children

Q: When would 'assiduous' be a good substitute for 'busy'?

While in some cases nearly identical to busy , assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application. // assiduous practice

Q: In what contexts can 'diligent' take the place of 'busy'?

The words diligent and busy can be used in similar contexts, but diligent suggests earnest application to some specific object or pursuit. // very diligent in her pursuit of a degree

Q: Where would 'industrious' be a reasonable alternative to 'busy'?

The synonyms industrious and busy are sometimes interchangeable, but industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work. // industrious employees

Q: When could 'sedulous' be used to replace 'busy'?

The words sedulous and busy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sedulous implies painstaking and persevering application. // a sedulous investigation of the murder

busy 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbi-zē

Definition of busy

as in engaged

involved in often constant activity the deadline is in two days, so everyone at work has been extremely busy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in buzzing

marked by much life, movement, or activity the busy, often hectic floor of the New York Stock Exchange

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in intruding

thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited she's one of those busy production facilitators—always concerned about other people's work and never her own

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

busy

2 of 2

verb

as in to interest

to hold the attention of the video game busied the child for hours

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of busy are assiduous, diligent, industrious, and sedulous. While all these words mean "actively engaged or occupied," busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure.

too busy to spend time with the children

When would assiduous be a good substitute for busy?

While in some cases nearly identical to busy, assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application.

assiduous practice

In what contexts can diligent take the place of busy?

The words diligent and busy can be used in similar contexts, but diligent suggests earnest application to some specific object or pursuit.

very diligent in her pursuit of a degree

Where would industrious be a reasonable alternative to busy?

The synonyms industrious and busy are sometimes interchangeable, but industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work.

industrious employees

When could sedulous be used to replace busy?

The words sedulous and busy 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 busy

Adjective

Breast Cancer Month events The Gulliver swimmers’ July fundraiser for the American Cancer Society was a harbinger of what remains a busy October in Miami-Dade and Broward for Breast Cancer Month awareness events. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 The foundation has had a busy 12 months on the festival circuit. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Verb

While their fellow Plums busied themselves with bridal parties and wedding cakes, these girls had political awakenings. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 27 May 2026 Appropriately, 19 miles east of their first major trophy lift since the 2021/22 League Cup, City men busied themselves by lifting the FA Cup over Chelsea in what was Pep Guardiola’s 24th visit to Wembley Stadium and his 20th major trophies as City manager. — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 17 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for busy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for busy

Adjective

If companies want more engaged workers, ADP CEO Maria Black says CEOs and senior leaders should start by asking themselves if employees trust them.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
That’s a striking increase from 2022, when 39% of engaged or married 18-to-34-year-olds reported having one — and only 15% of engaged or married Americans overall did.

— Grace Kelleher, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of engaged

Adjective

McCartney said of his note to Mendes about the height imbalance, wondering how the director will rectify this annoying, historic aberration.

— Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
Something in your routine, schedule, or workload may feel disproportionately annoying or demanding, especially if too many little things pile up at once.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of annoying

Adjective

Shoes also embraced a more playful and expressive spirit, with jewels, bows, flowers, bold prints and vibrant colors.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
An intermediate version had more saturated, vibrant colors, but discussions with the director led to a more subdued final grade, closer to the original photography.

— Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of vibrant

Adjective

Ambivalent about leaving Wisconsin, Caroline is befriended by the officious Jemma James (Mary Holland), whose husband, Eli (Michael Hough), is a railroad man.

— Judy Berman, Time, 9 July 2026
The former is heralded with a blast of horns; the latter guards its inner sanctum behind Tobie Windham’s officious sentry.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Definition of officious

Browse Nearby Words

busty

busy

busybodies

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Busy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busy. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of busy

adjective

verb

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