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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word busy different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of busy are assiduous, diligent, industrious, and sedulous. While all these words mean "actively engaged or occupied," busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure.

too busy to spend time with the children

When would assiduous be a good substitute for busy?

While in some cases nearly identical to busy, assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application.

assiduous practice

In what contexts can diligent take the place of busy?

The words diligent and busy can be used in similar contexts, but diligent suggests earnest application to some specific object or pursuit.

very diligent in her pursuit of a degree

Where would industrious be a reasonable alternative to busy?

The synonyms industrious and busy are sometimes interchangeable, but industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work.

industrious employees

When could sedulous be used to replace busy?

The words sedulous and busy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sedulous implies painstaking and persevering application.

a sedulous investigation of the murder

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of busy
Adjective
The sensual lips turned inward, busy with the sorrow overflowing from his heart. Garth Greenwell, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025 The busy street was closed to through traffic from Kellogg Boulevard to Grand Avenue. Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
Meanwhile, while Miranda busies herself with building a pageant empire, her husband Ray, a pill-popping nurse, has knocked up the 18-year-old granddaughter of one of his hospice patients. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025 Continuing to busy himself with creating collections and costume design, Poiret continues to look to the East, but also mines history for inspiration. Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for busy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busy
Adjective
  • By staying physically active, mentally engaged, socially connected and attentive to overall health, many people can protect recall well into their later years.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Modern studies confirm that leaders who score higher in emotional intelligence create more engaged and collaborative teams.
    Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The space itself — bright, polished, and buzzing — sets the tone for a brunch that’s chic without being stiff.
    Rai Mincey, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Their move back to the Taiwanese capital, where the mother sets up a food stand in a buzzing night market, brings them into closer proximity with her family.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The fund also uses zero leverage—a nice extra margin of safety should interest rates unexpectedly rise.
    Michael Foster, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The Jazz have another veteran big man who could interest rival teams in Lauri Markkanen, who has been the subject of trade rumors lately.
    Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • When shopping for supplements, be diligent about choosing products that contain quality ingredients and are made by reputable companies.
    Sam Manzella, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Identifying stocks that combine strong fundamentals with cheap valuations should remain a priority for diligent investors.
    David Trainer, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Much of the Southeast, especially the southern Appalachians, remains on track for an on-time and vibrant peak foliage.
    Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Among the 35 hues are trendy cool tones, conventional nudes, vibrant reds, and bold, creative colors like magenta and blackish-purple.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Beyond that, people found the Mitfords’ very, very aristocratic accent extremely annoying.
    Mimi Pond, People.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Here's how to erase annoying scratches from hardwood floors.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • My father was a thirty-two-year-old tank commander who had crossed to occupied France shortly after D-Day, fought in the savage battle for Caen and then on through northern France.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
  • In other words, the festival space now occupies a similar footprint as the Kentucky State Fair, minus the South Wing and Freedom Hall.
    Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The habitat corridors needed to support thriving populations of jaguars and dolphins and productive fisheries are threatened by both deforestation and construction of hydropower dams.
    Jeff Opperman, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • As the final season begins, Jamie and Claire apparently find war has followed them home to Fraser’s Ridge, by now a thriving settlement that grew in their absence.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Busy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busy. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

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