laborious

Laborious, a.

Etymology: [L. laboriosus,fr. labor labor: cf. F. laborieux.]

1. Requiring labor, perseverance, or sacrifices; toilsome; tiresome. Dost thou love watchings, abstinence, or toil, Laborious virtues all Learn these from Cato. Addison.

2. Devoted to labor; diligent; industrious; as, a laborious mechanic. -- La*bo"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- La*bo"ri*ous*ness, n.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for laborious; he lists it under difficult.

Where he writes about it:

That which is laborious or toilsome simply requires the steady application of labor or toil till accomplished; toilsome is the stronger word. — from difficult

Synonyms

difficult arduous exhausting hard onerous severe toilsome trying

Antonyms

easy facile light pleasant slight trifling trivial

etymology Webster’s online