effortful

E1F4F4O1R1T1F4U1L1

adjective

Requiring or showing effort.

Similar
heavyarduousbackbreakinggruelingdraggingexhaustingtiringwearing
Opposite
effortless
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Meanings

adjectiveeffortful (comparative more effortful, superlative most effortful)

comparative more effortful · superlative most effortful

  1. Requiring or showing effort.

    It is obvious, therefore, that syntopical reading is the most active and effortful kind of reading.

    (Can we date this quote?), How to Read a Book, Revised and Updated Edition edition, page 20

    Synonyms: heavy · Antonyms: effortless

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveRequiring or showing effort.

Similar
heavy
Opposite
effortless

More synonyms by meaning

adjectiverequiring great physical effort

Similar
arduousbackbreakinggruelingdraggingexhaustingtiringwearingheavylaboredlaboured
Opposite
effortless
Also see
arduousbackbreakingdifficultdraggingexhaustinggruellinghardheavylabor-intensivelaboriouslabouredlabour-intensiveleadenmurderousoperoseploddingpunishingrockyroughsisypheanstrainingstrenuousstrugglefultiringtoilsometoughwearingwearying

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From effort + -ful.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

effortful. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/effortful

MLA

“effortful.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/effortful. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “effortful,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/effortful.

Source: effortful on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.