Diligent
adj.capable, thoughtfulprofessional
What it means
Applies steady attention and careful effort until the work is properly done.
Reach for it when writing a reference that should praise both persistence and care
Jae was diligent in checking every consent form before the study began.
Choose between these
8- everyday
when the amount of effort matters more than method
not when Long hours are not automatically careful or effective, qualities that diligent usually carries.
- warm
when careful notice of people, instructions, or changing details matters
not when Attention in the moment is narrower than a dependable pattern of effort.
- professional
when duty, care, and a desire to do what is right guide the work
not when It emphasizes responsibility more than sustained effort, and can fit a careful person who works slowly.
- professional
when precision in small details is the outstanding strength
not when It may suggest perfectionism while offering no evidence of persistence across a long task.
- professional
when no relevant detail or step has been missed
not when A single exhaustive review can be thorough without showing the steady work habits of a diligent person.
- formal
when productive activity continues at a strong pace
not when Busyness can look industrious without the focused checking that makes diligent the safer praise.
- literary
when formal language should stress unremitting care
not when Its elevated, uncommon tone can obscure a straightforward resume or recommendation.
- literary
when accuracy requires slow, exacting care
not when The strain and minute detail implied here are unnecessary for steady everyday effort.
Said against
3- careless
- negligent
- idle
It naturally appears in
3- diligent worker
The diligent worker documented each repair before moving to the next machine.
- diligent research
Diligent research revealed that the two reports used different measures.
- diligent attention
Her diligent attention to the accounts found the error before filing.
The word family
1Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English adjective, sense 1: hardworking, focused, and industriously concentrated opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.