laborious
adjective
la·bo·ri·ous lə-ˈbȯr-ē-əs 
1
a
: involving, requiring, or characterized by hard and sustained effort : arduous
Overland travel was not an adventurous communal leap, but a laborious, individual trek.
Daniel J. Boorstin
Daniel J. BoorstinMaking a telescope mirror is a long and laborious process. David Devoss and Eric Sander
David Devoss and Eric Sander b
: characterized by long, detailed elaboration : tedious
Much of the middle of the book is a laborious account of the scouring of the ocean floor that led to the discovery of the Titanic. The Economist
The Economist2
: devoted to labor : industrious
We have the greatest riches, the greatest fertility, … the most laborious population. Joseph Conrad
Joseph Conrad laboriously adverb
laboriousness noun
Synonyms
- active
- assiduous
- bustling
- busy
- diligent
- employed
- engaged
- hopping
- industrious
- occupied
- sedulous
- tied-up
- working
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a slow and laborious process the volunteers have been commendably laborious in their cleanup of the beach
Recent Examples on the Web Helping a voucher recipient move into an apartment is a laborious process, Christy Respress, who runs the nonprofit Pathways to Housing, explained. Julie Zauzmer Weil, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Aug. 2022 Helping a voucher recipient move into an apartment is a laborious process, Christy Respress, who runs the nonprofit Pathways to Housing, explained. Julie Zauzmer Weil, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2022 The legislation, originally sketched out as a $3.5 trillion budget blueprint, had already been curtailed substantially to satisfy Mr. Manchin and a few other centrists, through months of laborious negotiations. New York Times, 19 Dec. 2021 Given the history of Black people in United States—ascending from chattel slavery to free American citizens—the journey to establishing an identity for ourselves has been laborious. Essence, 11 Aug. 2022 Producing lavender oil is laborious: The flowers are picked, dried and sent to a distillery to extract the oil. Lucy Papachristou, WSJ, 7 Aug. 2022 Tracing transactions can also be laborious because electronic components often travel through a chain of distributors before reaching the end user. Jeanne Whalen, Washington Post, 15 June 2022 Andrew Hamilton, health care research director for Service Employees International Union (SEIU), said plodding through HCA’s political contribution was laborious. Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2022 And the journey from one to the other was laborious. James Harbeck, The Week, 23 Feb. 2022 See More
Julie Zauzmer Weil, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Aug. 2022 Helping a voucher recipient move into an apartment is a laborious process, Christy Respress, who runs the nonprofit Pathways to Housing, explained. Julie Zauzmer Weil, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2022 The legislation, originally sketched out as a $3.5 trillion budget blueprint, had already been curtailed substantially to satisfy Mr. Manchin and a few other centrists, through months of laborious negotiations. New York Times, 19 Dec. 2021 Given the history of Black people in United States—ascending from chattel slavery to free American citizens—the journey to establishing an identity for ourselves has been laborious. Essence, 11 Aug. 2022 Producing lavender oil is laborious: The flowers are picked, dried and sent to a distillery to extract the oil. Lucy Papachristou, WSJ, 7 Aug. 2022 Tracing transactions can also be laborious because electronic components often travel through a chain of distributors before reaching the end user. Jeanne Whalen, Washington Post, 15 June 2022 Andrew Hamilton, health care research director for Service Employees International Union (SEIU), said plodding through HCA’s political contribution was laborious. Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2022 And the journey from one to the other was laborious. James Harbeck, The Week, 23 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
laborious
adjective
la·bo·ri·ous lə-ˈbȯr-ē-əs
: requiring much effort
Rebuilding was a slow and laborious task.
laborious
adjective
1
as in diligent
involved in often constant activity the volunteers have been commendably laborious in their cleanup of the beach Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- diligent
- busy
- engaged
- employed
- assiduous
- industrious
- working
- occupied
- preoccupied
- active
- sedulous
- immersed
- bustling
- vigorous
- hopping
- focused
- tied-up
- absorbed
- engrossed
- going
- swamped
- buzzing
- concentrating
- animated
- energetic
- untiring
- indefatigable
- operational
- tireless
- astir
- lively
- functional
- vibrant
- operative
- humming
- operating
- intent
- functioning
- hardworking
- flourishing
- running
- knee-deep
- thriving
- focussed
- happening
- living
- alive
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- idle
- inactive
- unemployed
- free
- unoccupied
- slow
- lifeless
- sleepy
- passive
- latent
- unbusy
- dull
- quiescent
- dormant
- inert
- asleep
- dead
- inoperative
- nonoperating
2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort the laborious task of cleaning up the oil spill Synonyms & Similar Words
- difficult
- challenging
- rigorous
- tough
- complicated
- hard
- demanding
- formidable
- arduous
- effortful
- heavy
- strenuous
- toilsome
- exhausting
- rough
- testing
- grueling
- painful
- rugged
- sweaty
- herculean
- backbreaking
- exacting
- intricate
- severe
- uphill
- complex
- tall
- murderous
- gruelling
- serious
- stiff
- annoying
- problematic
- killer
- moiling
- involved
- stressful
- hellacious
- onerous
- tricky
- labored
- burdensome
- elusive
- stubborn
- troublesome
- brutal
- grim
- irksome
- abstruse
- oppressive
- problematical
- taxing
- abstract
- thorny
- recondite
- trying
- Augean
- pick-and-shovel
- bruising
- knotty
- vexatious
- tight
- hairy
- opaque
- insoluble
- bothersome
- strict
- ticklish
- spiny
- stringent
- cruel
- distressing
- grievous
- inhuman
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- easy
- simple
- effortless
- cheap
- undemanding
- uncomplicated
- mindless
- doable
- facile
- soft
- light
- achievable
- painless
- elementary
- clear
- smooth
- gentle
- manageable
- soothing
- relaxed
- comforting
- accessible
- friendly
- user-friendly
- idiotproof
3
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention that report is the product of months of laborious research Synonyms & Similar Words
- challenging
- difficult
- arduous
- demanding
- toilsome
- onerous
- burdensome
- grueling
- taxing
- tough
- exacting
- hard
- gruelling
- strenuous
- killing
- testing
- formidable
- persnickety
- herculean
- rigorous
- oppressive
- trying
- rough
- stringent
- rugged
- stiff
- severe
- rigid
- strict
- stern
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- undemanding
- easy
- simple
- light
- effortless
- unchallenging
- smooth
- facile
- nondemanding
- anti-statist
- anti-statists
- anti-stick
- anti-Stokes line
- anti-stress
- anti-strike
- anti-student
- anti-submarine
- anti-subsidy
- anti-subversion
- anti-subversive
- anti-suicide
- anti-sunward
- anti-sway bar
- anti-sweatshop
- anti-takeover
- anti-tank
- anti-tarnish
- anti-tax
- anti-technological
- anti-technology
- anti-terror
- anti-terrorism
- anti-terrorist
- anti-theft