Work ethic
What it means
A dependable commitment to doing work carefully and responsibly.
Reach for it when praising a dependable pattern of effort, responsibility, and care in work
Her strong work ethic earned the trust of every client.
Words to choose between 7
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional |
|
| formal | |
| literary |
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everyday
Fits when others can depend on follow-through
Careful Reliability does not show intensity or initiative.
-
warm
Fits when strong motivation advances ambitious goals
Careful Drive can encourage overwork and competition.
-
professional
Fits when consistent action continues without immediate motivation
Careful Discipline may be externally imposed.
-
professional
Fits when conduct meets role and ethical expectations
Careful Professionalism can be polished without hard work.
-
formal
conscientiousness
Fits when care and responsibility guide completion
Careful Conscientious workers can have limited output.
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formal
Fits when steady careful effort is the exact virtue
Careful Diligence does not include reliability or values about work.
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literary
industriousness
Fits when sustained productive activity deserves praise
Careful Busyness can be mistaken for useful effort.
Opposites 3
- negligence
- unreliability
- idleness
Common phrases 3
-
strong work ethic
Her strong work ethic included asking for help before quality slipped.
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team work ethic
The team's work ethic valued clean handoffs as much as long hours.
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develop a work ethic
Apprentices develop a work ethic through meaningful responsibility and feedback.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
Work ethic should praise reliable, responsible contribution, not glorify exhaustion, unpaid labor, or constant availability.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated