hard-working

adjective

loyal and hard-working employees:

diligent, industrious, conscientious, assiduous, sedulous, painstaking, persevering, unflagging, untiring, tireless, indefatigable, studious;

energetic, keen, enthusiastic, driven, zealous, busy, with one's shoulder to the wheel, with one's nose to the grindstone;

archaic laborious.

▷antonyms lazy.

choose the right word

hard-working, diligent, industrious

■ Hard-working is the most general term but is typically applied to people in paid work (you can search for an honest, hard-working mechanic in your area).

■ Diligent describes a careful, conscientious person (such as a pupil, teacher, parent, or student) or their actions (such as research, inquiries, practice, or a search). A diligent person typically works hard from a sense of duty or dedication (she had been diligent about her piano lessons | skilled and diligent nursing staff).

■ industrious conveys an impression of worthiness (she wanted energetic, industrious people around her), being commonly used alongside energetic, loyal, sober, or obedient.