Definitions

diligent

[dil-i-juhnt] / ˈdɪl ɪ dʒənt /

ADJECTIVE

persevering, hard-working

Synonyms

STRONGEST

active assiduous attentive careful conscientious eager earnest indefatigable industrious painstaking persistent studious tireless

WEAK

busy constant eager beaver grind laborious occupied operose persisting pertinacious plugging sedulous steadfast unflagging unrelenting untiring

Antonyms

STRONGEST

careless disinterested idle ignorant inactive inattentive lazy neglectful thoughtless tired uncareful unconcerned unenthusiastic unscrupulous weary

WEAK

indifferent languid lethargic negligent

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In other cases, diligent taxpayers file extensions because they don’t have all the forms they need.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

Officials say that to combat the spread, ranchers must be diligent about covering wounds on their livestock, to prevent screwworms from taking hold.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

Indexing presumes general market efficiency: The counterparty to an active seller is an active buyer; both are confident, well-staffed and diligent.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

There was no diligent retailer in the Philippines who realized they overcharged you for an eBay or Amazon purchase you had forgotten you made years ago, and miraculously wanted to make you whole.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

Sadly, the diligent peasants almost never achieved the future economic security they so craved through their hard work in the present.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

Vocabulary lists containing diligent

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Grade 9, List 1

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