punctilious

[ puhngk-til-ee-uhs ]

adjective

1. extremely attentive to punctilios; strict or exact in the observance of the formalities or amenities of conduct or actions.

   Synonyms: conscientious, careful, demanding, precise

   Antonyms: careless

punctilious

/ pʌŋkˈtɪlɪəs /

adjective

1. paying scrupulous attention to correctness in etiquette
2. attentive to detail

Derived Forms

• puncˈtiliousness, noun
• puncˈtiliously, adverb

Other Words From

• punc·tili·ous·ly adverb
• punc·tili·ous·ness noun
• unpunc·tili·ous adjective
• unpunc·tili·ous·ly adverb
• unpunc·tili·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of punctilious¹

First recorded in 1625–35; punctili(o) + -ous

Synonym Study

See scrupulous.

Example Sentences

And that doesn’t even include the host of honest mistakes that can and do occur filling out the mountains of punctilious paperwork after a 16-hour day.

From Salon

But if you’re a pizza cognoscente, or even a bread baker, you’ll recognize that this tomato pie is the work of cooks who are punctilious about their dough.

From Seattle Times

At work, Heuermann’s punctilious approach rubbed some people the wrong way.

From Seattle Times

Ali, who recently converted to the Nation of Islam, is punctilious about matters of faith.

From Los Angeles Times

Know this about the greatest teams: They’re the pettiest, most punctilious outfits you ever saw.

From Washington Post