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.

Although she is quite frugal, she has not been particularly diligent with investing.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

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

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

The company has remained diligent following a significant operational recovery in 2025, delivering a statutory profit and progress toward operational targets, Hussain says.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

Those who have worked alongside him describe him as a "by the book man" who has had a distinguished career in public service and is "diligent about processes and acting properly."

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

She was almost as diligent as when she had the whole weight of the house on her shoulders.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Vocabulary lists containing diligent

100 Top "SAT" Words

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Grade 9, List 1

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Advanced English Words

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!