effortful
Demanding hard work
Effortful describes something requiring significant effort or exertion—the opposite of effortless.
The word appears most often in psychology and cognitive science: effortful processing, effortful control.
In general use, it can sound clinical or awkward where "difficult" or "laborious" might serve better: The conversation felt effortful and strained.
Requiring considerable effort
- arduousDemanding strenuous effort
- taxingRequiring great effort
- demandingRequiring great effort
- gruelingExtremely tiring and demanding
exhausting · strenuous · toilsome · onerous · backbreaking · burdensome · wearisome · tiring
Showing extreme attention to detail
- industriousDevoted to steady effort
- conscientiousScrupulously careful and thorough
- assiduousShowing careful persistent effort
- thoroughComplete in every detail
hardworking · dedicated · steadfast · persistent · scrupulous · attentive · earnest · painstaking
Mentally present and alert
- intentionalDone on purpose
- purposefulDone with intention
- calculatedFigured out mathematically
- consideredThought about carefully
mindful · focused · concentrated · attentive · careful · methodical · measured · studied
laborious
Requiring considerable effort
grueling · exhausting · strenuous · toilsome · onerous · backbreaking · burdensome · wearisome · tiring · heavy
meticulous
Showing extreme attention to detail
- industriousDevoted to steady effort
- conscientiousScrupulously careful and thorough
- assiduousShowing careful persistent effort
thorough · hardworking · dedicated · steadfast · persistent · scrupulous · attentive · earnest · painstaking · unflagging
conscious
Mentally present and alert
- intentionalDone on purpose
- purposefulDone with intention
- calculatedFigured out mathematically
considered · mindful · focused · concentrated · attentive · careful · methodical · measured · studied · controlled
striving
Earnest sustained endeavor
pushing · exertion · strain · grappling · wrestling · slogging · trudging · plodding · battling · persevering
- manual controlsmanual, hand-operated, lever, handle, button
effortfuleffortless
Requiring no strain
easy · undemanding · facile · unexacting · untaxing
effortfulautomatic
Operating without intervention
effortless · mindless · instinctive · intuitive · reflexive
force, effort, fortify, effortless, efforts, fortitude, forte, effortlessly, effortlessness