WordValemeticulous
showing great attention to detail; very careful
very careful and precise
In more detail
very careful and precise about details; paying close attention to accuracy and exactness
Examples
- She did a meticulous job cleaning every corner of the house.
How to use meticulous
Meticulous describes someone or their work as showing extreme care and precision, often with an emphasis on attention to minor details. It is more formal and admiring in tone than 'careful,' and suggests a habitual quality rather than effort in a single moment. It is common in academic, professional, and artistic contexts.
Common phrases
- meticulous attention to detail
- meticulous work
- meticulous planning
- meticulous researcher
- meticulous record-keeping
Synonyms
careful · precise · thorough · conscientious · fastidious
Opposites
careless · sloppy · negligent
Word family
meticulously (adverb) · meticulousness (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use 'meticulous' to mean simply 'careful' without capturing the sense of scrupulous attention to fine details and exactness that distinguishes it from mere carefulness.
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