adjective

diligent

/ˈdɪlɪdʒənt/ · say it: DIL·uh·juhnt

showing careful, persistent effort

In Sophisticated Everyday

hardworking and careful

In Personality & Character

In more detail

careful and thorough in your work; showing effort and attention to detail

Examples

She is a diligent student who always completes her homework carefully.

How to use diligent

Diligent describes someone who works with sustained care and commitment over time, often implying consistency rather than speed. It carries a positive, approving tone and is commonly used in academic, professional, and formal contexts. Unlike meticulous (which emphasizes precision in details), diligent emphasizes persistent effort and thoroughness overall.

Common phrases

diligent worker
diligent effort
diligent student
diligent research
diligent attention

Synonyms

conscientious · meticulous · industrious · thorough · assiduous

Opposites

negligent · careless · lazy

Word family

diligence (noun) · diligently (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse diligent with intelligent; diligent means hardworking and careful, not necessarily clever.

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