diligent
DIL-i-junt
/ˈdɪl.ɪ.dʒənt/
Showing steady, earnest, and energetic effort in completing tasks.
Implies quiet devotion, reliability, and steady effort over time.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'diligere', meaning to select or value highly. When you are diligent, you value your work enough to give it your full care and continuous attention, showing that love for a task manifests as consistent effort.
Word relationships
- assiduous: Assiduous emphasizes sit-down concentration, whereas diligent is broader in daily work context.
- conscientious: Conscientious adds an explicit sense of moral duty.
- lazy: Lazy means unwilling to work or use energy.
- negligent: Negligent means failing to take proper care.
Commonly confused with
- indigent: Indigent means poor or needy, whereas diligent means hardworking.
Word family
- diligence (noun): Careful and persistent work or effort.
- diligently (adverb): In a steady, earnest manner.
Collocations
- diligent research
- diligent effort
- diligent student
- diligent search
Example sentences
- "Her diligent effort in resolving customer complaints earned her a promotion." Corporate evaluation
- "Through diligent practice, the young violinist mastered the complex sonata." Academic scholarship
Memory hook
DILIGENT workers DELIGHT in doing a thorough job. Loving care in work.
When not to use
Avoid using to describe sudden dramatic heroic bursts without prior steady work.
Fun facts
- In legal terms, 'due diligence' refers to the required investigation standard before signing a contract.
Related words
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