What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
laborious
Example
The research project was laborious and took months to complete. [laborious: adjective]
Example
She labored over the painting for hours, trying to get every detail just right. [labored: verb]
hard
Example
He worked hard all day in the hot sun, digging trenches for the new fence. [hard: adverb]
Example
It's hard to believe that she managed to finish the marathon despite her injury. [hard: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hard is a more commonly used word than laborious in everyday language. Hard is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while laborious is less common and refers to a specific type of task or project.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between laborious and hard?
Both laborious and hard can be used in formal and informal contexts, but laborious may be more commonly used in academic or technical writing due to its emphasis on precision and detail.