industrious

[ in-duhs-tree-uhs ]

adjective

1. working energetically and devotedly; hardworking; diligent:

   an industrious person.

   Synonyms: energetic, tireless, sedulous, persevering, assiduous

   Antonyms: indolent, lazy

2. Obsolete. skillful.

industrious

/ ɪnˈdʌstrɪəs /

adjective

1. hard-working, diligent, or assiduous
2. an obsolete word for skilful

Derived Forms

• inˈdustriousness, noun
• inˈdustriously, adverb

Other Words From

• in·dus·tri·ous·ly adverb
• in·dus·tri·ous·ness noun
• non·in·dus·tri·ous adjective
• non·in·dus·tri·ous·ly adverb
• su·per·in·dus·tri·ous adjective
• su·per·in·dus·tri·ous·ly adverb
• un·in·dus·tri·ous adjective
• un·in·dus·tri·ous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of industrious¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French industrie “cleverness, skill,” from Old French industrie “contrivance, device,” from Latin industrius “diligent, assiduous”; equivalent to indo-, by-form of in- “in” ( in- ²( def ) + -struus, noun derivative of struere “to arrange, devise, build”

Synonym Study

See busy.

Example Sentences

The Moravians were an industrious, inventive, highly organized, devout people who valued education for all.

From The Daily Beast

There were plenty of lovable, responsible, industrious “good role models” for my parents to try to push on me.

From The Daily Beast

Empire, Rhodes seemed to think, was just the honest result of industrious work.

From The Daily Beast

Because it lacks the stylish voice of a hard-boiled detective noir, it sometimes feels coldly industrious.

From The Daily Beast

Corruption is so endemic that one industrious Czech started a corruption safari bus tour.

From The Daily Beast

A good neighbour and a regular church-goer, honest and industrious—let us hope that these qualities will be taken into account.

From Project Gutenberg

An industrious housewife, she hummed the hymns of contentment and peace from morning till evening.

From Project Gutenberg

There must be something wrong with a social system which permits one idle peer to ruin hundreds of industrious producers.

From Project Gutenberg

An offer which Jane received from a very honest, industrious, and thrifty jeweler, aroused anew a mother's maternal solicitude.

From Project Gutenberg

He complained that he had gone to see a great prince, and had found only an industrious shipwright.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• conscientious
• diligent
• energetic
• productive