Select the most appropriate antonym of “diligent”:

Correct answer: Negligent. Diligent means careful and hardworking, and “negligent” (careless) is its opposite.

Background: Negligence means failure to take proper care.

• Industrious: “Industrious” is a synonym of diligent.
• Hardworking: “Hardworking” is a synonym of diligent.
• Persistent: “Persistent” is similar in meaning to diligent.

Did you know? Diligent and negligent look alike, but their meanings are opposite.

Memory trick: Diligent ↔ Negligent.