laborious
gb/ləbˈɔɹiəs/ us/ləbˈɔɹiəs/
B2
English
~ 8100
fáradságos, nehéz, kemény, megerőltető, munkaigényes, nehézkes, nehezített
B2
FORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
a laborious [task/process/journey]; [doing something] is laborious
Completing the paperwork for the visa was a long and laborious process.
A vízumhoz szükséges papírok kitöltése hosszadalmas és fáradságos folyamat volt.
After a laborious climb, they finally reached the top of the mountain.
Egy fáradságos mászás után végre felértek a hegytetőre.
The team spent months in laborious negotiations before signing the contract.
Cleaning out the old warehouse proved far more laborious than we had expected.
Translating the entire report by hand was a slow and laborious task.
Learner examples
Filling in all these forms is very laborious.
Ezeknek az űrlapoknak a kitöltése nagyon fáradságos.
The walk up the hill was laborious for the old man.
Az idős férfinak megerőltető volt felsétálni a dombra.
Writing this long report by myself is laborious.
The research was laborious, but they found good results.
Moving the heavy boxes up the stairs was laborious.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *laborious* to describe a person (e.g., "a laborious worker"), but in modern English it almost always describes activities or processes, not people. Use "hardworking" for a person and "laborious" for the task: "She is a hardworking employee, and the project is laborious." Learners may also confuse *laborious* with *labor* meaning childbirth; these are related in origin but used in very different contexts.
Meaning
requiring a lot of hard work
Collocations
laborious task
|laborious process
|laborious journey
|laborious negotiations
|long and laborious
|slow and laborious
Synonyms
arduous (Stresses great physical or mental effort; often a bit stronger and more dramatic than "laborious.")
|
taxing (Emphasizes how tiring and demanding something is, sometimes emotionally or mentally.)
|
strenuous (Often used for physical effort; suggests intense exertion more than slowness.)
|
tedious (Focuses more on something being boring and repetitive than on actual amount of effort.)
Antonyms
easy (Describes something that does not need much effort or skill, the direct opposite of "laborious.")
|
effortless (Suggests something is done with almost no visible effort, the strong opposite of "requiring much effort.")
Themes
work
|daily life
|study
|business
|core_vocabulary
|education
Definition
Needing a lot of time and hard work, and often feeling slow or difficult.
Requiring a great deal of time, effort, or hard work, often in a slow or difficult way.
C1
FORMAL
2
nehézkes
B2
Usage pattern:
laborious [style/prose/explanation]; a laborious attempt to [do something]
The report is accurate, but the writing is so laborious that it is difficult to read.
A jelentés pontos, de a szövege annyira nehézkes, hogy nehezen olvasható.
Her speech was laborious and full of long, complex sentences that lost the audience's attention.
A beszéde nehézkes volt, tele hosszú, bonyolult mondatokkal, ezért a hallgatóság figyelme elkalandozott.
The novel's opening chapters are laborious, but the story becomes much more engaging later on.
He gave a laborious explanation instead of a clear, simple answer.
The dialogue feels laborious, as if every line has been overthought and overworked.
Learner examples
The article was good, but the language was very laborious.
A cikk jó volt, de a nyelvezete nagyon nehézkes.
His style is laborious and not easy to read.
A stílusa nehézkes, ezért nem könnyű olvasni.
The professor gave a long, laborious explanation of a simple idea.
The movie starts with some slow, laborious dialogue.
Her essay sounds laborious because she tries too hard to use difficult words.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think *laborious* here means only "boring." While it can feel boring, the key idea is that the writer or speaker is trying too hard, so the result is slow, heavy, and awkward. For simple "boring," words like "dull" or "uninteresting" are better.
Meaning
overly careful, heavy in style
Collocations
laborious prose
|laborious style
|laborious explanation
|laborious dialogue
|slow and laborious writing
Synonyms
clumsy (Suggests the style is not smooth or natural; less formal than "laborious.")
|
ponderous (Emphasizes that the style feels heavy and slow, often long-winded.)
|
stilted (Focuses on speech or writing that sounds unnatural or too formal; overlaps with the awkward side of "laborious.")
Antonyms
fluent (Describes speech or writing that flows easily and naturally, opposite of slow and effortful.)
|
lively (Emphasizes energy and ease in writing or speech, contrasting with the heavy, slow feeling of "laborious.")
Themes
communication
|education
|arts
Definition
Describes writing, speaking, or thinking that feels slow and heavy because the person is trying too hard.
(Especially of writing, speech, or thinking) Showing too much effort in a way that feels slow, awkward, or hard to enjoy.
C1
FORMAL
3
nehézkes
B2
nehezített
C1
Usage pattern:
laborious breathing; laborious [movement/progress/steps]
The patient showed signs of laborious breathing and was given oxygen immediately.
A betegnél nehezített légzés jelei mutatkoztak, ezért azonnal oxigént kapott.
He made laborious progress up the stairs after his surgery.
A műtétje után nehézkesen haladt felfelé a lépcsőn.
Her steps were slow and laborious as she crossed the room with the help of a walker.
After the long illness, even a short walk felt laborious for him.
The climbers' laborious breathing could be heard in the thin mountain air.
Learner examples
The old man walked with laborious steps.
Az idős férfi nehézkes léptekkel ment.
After the run, her breathing was slow and laborious.
A futás után lassan és nehézkesen vette a levegőt.
His recovery was slow, and even standing up was laborious.
At high altitude, climbing becomes laborious and hard.
The nurse heard his laborious breathing and called the doctor.
Common mistake:
Learners may mix up *laborious* and *labored* for breathing. Both can be used, but *labored breathing* is more common in everyday and medical English. *Laborious* here sounds a bit more formal or literary.
Meaning
slow, effortful movement or breathing
Collocations
laborious breathing
|laborious progress
|laborious steps
|laborious movement
Synonyms
labored (Very close in meaning, especially for breathing; slightly more common in everyday and medical description.)
|
painful (Highlights the discomfort or pain involved in the movement or breathing, not just the effort.)
Antonyms
easy (Describes movement or breathing that happens without much effort or discomfort.)
|
smooth (Emphasizes movement or breathing that is regular and without difficulty, opposite of strained or heavy.)
Themes
health
|body
|medicine
Definition
Describes movement or breathing that is slow and hard because it needs a lot of effort.
Involving movement or breathing that is slow and requires noticeable effort, often because of weakness, injury, or illness.
Grammar
Dictionary form
laborious
IPA
GB/ləbˈɔɹiəs/
US/ləbˈɔɹiəs/
Syllables & stress
la - bor - i - ous (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (bor)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: laborious
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.