laboriousness

IPA/lɐbˈɔːɹiəsnəs/
IPA/lɐbˈɔːɹiəsnəs/

laboriousness — noun

1. the fact that a task takes a great deal of physical or mental energy over a long

1.名詞C1
釋義

the fact that a task takes a great deal of physical or mental energy over a long period of time, making it feel heavy and draining

例句

The laboriousness of carrying furniture up three flights of stairs exhausted Caleb.

laboriousness + of + gerund phrase

Diego was surprised by the laboriousness of fixing the old wooden fence with basic tools.

同義詞
  • arduousness

    slightly more formal and literary; emphasises steep difficulty more than duration

  • strenuousness

    focuses on the physical or mental energy required, often for an active task

反義詞
  • ease

    the quality of being effortless

  • simplicity

    the quality of being straightforward and not complicated

文法句型

laboriousness + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently combined with a following 'of'-phrase that names the task, as in 'the laboriousness of [gerund phrase / noun phrase]'.

常見錯誤

❌The laboriousness of the project made us tired.
✅The laboriousness of the project wore everyone out.
💡'tired' is too general; 'wear out' or 'exhaust' captures the draining quality better.

2. the quality of a piece of writing, a speech, or an explanation that has far too

2.名詞C1
釋義

the quality of a piece of writing, a speech, or an explanation that has far too much detail, which makes it feel dull and difficult to get through

例句

The laboriousness of the legal document made it almost impossible for anyone to stay focused.

laboriousness + of + [document type]

Meera found the laboriousness of the professor's lecture so draining that she nearly fell asleep.

同義詞
  • tediousness

    more everyday word; focuses on the boredom caused by length and repetition

  • wearisomeness

    emphasises the mental tiredness that comes from plodding through excessive detail

反義詞
  • conciseness

    the quality of saying or writing only what is necessary

  • brevity

    the quality of being short and to the point

文法句型

laboriousness + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Commonly applied to written or spoken works (documents, lectures, novels, reports). Unlike sense 1, the focus is on excessive detail rather than physical exertion.

常見錯誤

❌The laboriousness of the textbook was too much information.
✅The laboriousness of the textbook made it a struggle to finish.
💡'too much information' is vague; reference the effect on the reader instead.

3. the habit of putting a lot of steady effort into your work and refusing to give

3.名詞C1
釋義

the habit of putting a lot of steady effort into your work and refusing to give up or cut corners, even when the work is difficult

例句

Chiara's laboriousness earned her a promotion within her first year at the research lab.

possessive + laboriousness as a personal quality

The team valued Yael's laboriousness, knowing every task would be finished ahead of the deadline.

同義詞
  • industriousness

    very close in meaning; focuses more on being productive and busy

  • diligence

    emphasises careful attention and thoroughness alongside hard work

  • perseverance

    focuses on continuing despite difficulties rather than putting in effort

反義詞
  • laziness

    the quality of avoiding work or effort

  • indolence

    formal term for the habit of being inactive and avoiding exertion

文法句型

possessive + laboriousness

用法筆記

This is the oldest sense historically and carries a positive, admiring tone. It overlaps with 'diligence' but emphasises steady effort even more than carefulness. In modern usage, the 'HARD EFFORT' (sense 1) and 'TEDIOUS DETAIL' (sense 2) meanings are far more common.

常見錯誤

❌Her laboriousness helped her finish quickly.
✅Her laboriousness helped her keep working steadily through the long project.
💡'finish quickly' contradicts the idea of slow, persistent effort.