sedulous

adjective

ˈse-jə-ləs How to pronounce sedulous (audio)
Definition of sedulousnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedulous
  1. diligent
  2. engaged
  3. busy
Adjective
  • More recently, diligent and passionate biologists, chemists, and experts from other disciplines have used technology for contemporary experiments that reveal a spectrum of plant consciousness.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Dark circles happen, acne pops up, and dark spots can even appear despite diligent sunscreen use.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of diligent
Adjective
  • But writing notes by hand requires a more engaged mental filter.
    — Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • By creating measurable value today, employees become more engaged in their roles.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of engaged
Adjective
  • Then, the Iran war started, resulting in massive disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, once one of the world's busiest oil-shipping lanes.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Palacios brings plenty to Ipswich with and without the ball, the statement signing in a busy window who could go a long way to keeping them up.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of busy

Browse Nearby Words

sedulity
sedulous
sedulously
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Cite this Entry

“Sedulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sedulous. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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