Vocabulary in context
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Diligent
Hardworking; showing care, persistence, and attention to detail in one's work.
adjective💡
Imagine This
The owner of the deli shows care and hard work to operate the shop. Customers call him the Deli Gentleman because he is also very caring and gentle, just like a gentleman.
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Sounds Like
DIL-i-jent
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Looks Like
deli-gent (a hint that the word splits into deli + gent, like a deli shop owner who is a gentleman)
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Remember This
Diligent comes from Latin diligens, diligere 'to value, to love or take pains'; the noun form is diligence, the adverb is diligently.
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Other Forms
Diligencenoun
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Connect With
industrious, assiduous, meticulous, conscientious, thorough
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Note
Diligent is an adjective; form the noun as diligence and the adverb as diligently. Do not confuse with 'deligent' (an incorrect form).
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Study Deeper
Examples
- She is a diligent student who completes all assignments on time.
- The engineer's diligent preparation helped prevent errors in the final design.
Synonyms
industriousassiduoussedulouspainstakingthorough
Antonyms
lazynegligentcareless
Etymology
From Latin diligens, diligere 'careful, attentive' from diligere 'to value, to love, to take pains'.
Mnemonic
Mnemonic: DILI GENT — think of a diligent person as a 'deli gent' who runs a shop with careful, gentlemanly care.
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Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Assiduous
adjectivePersistent; persevering; hard-working
Meticulous
adjectiveShowing great attention to detail; extremely careful and precise.
Conscientious
adjectiveWishing to do what is right; diligent and careful in carrying out duties.
Abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand; obscure or highly complex.
Accidental
adjectiveHappening by chance or without deliberate planning; not intended. In music, it is also a noun for a symbol that temporarily alters a pitch.
Acerbic
adjectiveSharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.
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