laborious (adj.)
- abstruse
- ardent
- arduous
- assiduous
- backbreaking
- brutal
- burdensome
- careful
- complex
- critical
- crushing
- delicate
- demanding
- detailed
- determined
- difficult
- diligent
- dogged
- effortful
- energetic
- exacting
- exhausting
- exhaustive
- fervent
- forced
- formidable
- grueling
- hairy
- hard
- hard-fought
- hardworking
- heavy
- hefty
- indefatigable
- industrious
- intricate
- killing
- knotted
- knotty
- labored
- mean
- obdurate
- obstinate
- onerous
- operose
- oppressive
- painful
- painstaking
- persevering
- persistent
- ponderous
- punishing
- relentless
- rigorous
- rough
- rugged
- scrupulous
- sedulous
- severe
- sleepless
- spiny
- steadfast
- steady
- steep
- stiff
- strained
- strenuous
- stubborn
- taxing
- thorny
- thorough
- ticklish
- tireless
- tiring
- toilsome
- tough
- tricky
- troublesome
- unflagging
- unrelenting
- unremitting
- unsleeping
- unsparing
- untiring
- unwavering
- unwearied
- uphill
- vehement
- wearisome
- wearying
- wicked
- zealous
I shall detain you no longer in the demonstration of what we should not do, but straight conduct ye to a hillside, where I will point ye out the right path of a virtuous and noble education; laborious indeed at the first ascent, but else so smooth, so green, so full of goodly prospect and melodious sounds on every side that the harp of Orpheus was not more charming.
Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise
(That last infirmity of noble mind)
To scorn delights, and live laborious days;
But the fair guerdon when we hope to find,
And think to burst out into sudden blaze,
Comes the blind Fury with th' abhorred shears
And slits the thin-spun life.
