painstaking

[ peynz-tey-king, peyn-stey- ]

adjective

1. taking taking or characterized by taking pains or trouble; expending or showing diligent care and effort; careful:

   a painstaking craftsman; painstaking research.

   Synonyms: scrupulous, thorough

noun

1. careful and diligent effort.

painstaking

/ ˈpeɪnzˌteɪkɪŋ /

adjective

1. extremely careful, esp as to fine detail

   painstaking research

Derived Forms

• ˈpainsˌtakingly, adverb
• ˈpainsˌtakingness, noun

Other Words From

• painstaking·ly adverb
• painstaking·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of painstaking¹

First recorded in 1550–60; pain + -s ³ + taking

Synonym Study

Painstaking, careful, meticulous, conscientious all describe persons or behavior demonstrating attention to detail and effective task performance. painstaking stresses diligent and assiduous attention to detail in achieving a desired objective: a painstaking technician; the painstaking editing of a manuscript. Careful , the most general in sense of these words, implies serious intent to perform well and accurately whatever task one has in hand: a careful housepainter; a careful study of the social structure of gangs. Meticulous suggests extreme attention to details, especially the most minute, coupled with an almost obsessive desire to avoid error: a meticulous silversmith, every detail finished to perfection; fussily meticulous about matching shoes and clothing. Conscientious stresses scrupulous effort to obey one's sense of moral obligation to perform tasks well: a conscientious public defender; a conscientious description of the robbery.

Example Sentences

Instead of walking away from NAFTA, he renegotiated a very modest revision of its underlying structure, borrowing heavily from painstaking work that the Obama administration had undertaken as part of its ultimately unsuccessful push for the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership.

From Slate

It would take several years of quiet, painstaking work, and it would begin with Zuckerman’s ascent.

From Salon

It was supposed to be the city’s new criminal code, revised in a painstaking 16-year process for the first time in a century, then passed by the council.

From Slate

Registrars in the two northern California counties began the painstaking task of transferring votes from unreadable ballots to duplicates that can be read by machine, a process that requires hand checking and has significantly slowed down the count.

From Los Angeles Times

It was slow, painstaking work.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• assiduous
• careful
• conscientious
• diligent
• earnest
• exacting
• scrupulous
• strenuous