meticulous

[ muh-tik-yuh-luhs ]

adjective

1. taking or showing extreme care about minute details; precise; thorough:

   a meticulous craftsman;

   meticulous personal appearance.

   Synonyms: scrupulous, strict, exact

   Antonyms: careless

2. finicky; fussy:

   meticulous adherence to technicalities.

   Antonyms: careless

meticulous

/ mɪˈtɪkjʊləs /

adjective

1. very precise about details, even trivial ones; painstaking

Derived Forms

• meˈticulousness, noun
• meˈticulously, adverb

Other Words From

• me·tic·u·lous·ly adverb
• me·tic·u·los·i·ty [m, uh, -tik-y, uh, -, los, -i-tee], me·tic·u·lous·ness noun
• un·me·tic·u·lous adjective
• un·me·tic·u·lous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of meticulous¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin metīculōsus “full of fear, fearful,” equivalent to metī- for metū- (stem of metus “fear”) + -culōsus, extracted from perīculōsus “dangerous” ( perilous )

Word History and Origins

Origin of meticulous¹

C16 (meaning: timid): from Latin meticulōsus fearful, from metus fear

Synonym Study

See painstaking.

Example Sentences

The highs are most frequently supplied by the film’s magnificent musical numbers, which boast the stellar choreography typical of Chu’s work while highlighting the movie’s meticulous production design and practical set pieces.

From Salon

It was the meticulous d’Hérelle who, along with his wife, came up with the term “bacteriophage.”

From Salon

Such detours are part of the production’s meticulous efforts to grab and keep our attention, rewarding us for watching closely.

From Salon

The late Craig Brown was as dedicated as he was meticulous as Scotland manager.

From BBC

“Where Eve once seemed wild and inspired to Joan,” writes Anolik, “she now seemed slack and slothful. Where Joan once seemed meticulous and masterly to Eve, she now seemed dogged and doctrinaire.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accurate
• cautious
• conscientious
• exact
• fastidious
• fussy
• painstaking
• precise
• scrupulous
• strict
• thorough