meticulous

adjective

mə-ˈti-kyə-ləs How to pronounce meticulous (audio)
Definition of meticulousnext
as in careful
taking, showing, or involving great care and effort did a meticulous job of restoring the painting

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word meticulous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of meticulous are careful, punctilious, and scrupulous. While all these words mean "showing close attention to detail," meticulous may imply either commendable extreme carefulness or a hampering finicky caution over small points.

meticulous scholarship

When can careful be used instead of meticulous?

The words careful and meticulous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, careful implies attentiveness and cautiousness in avoiding mistakes.

a careful worker

When would punctilious be a good substitute for meticulous?

The meanings of punctilious and meticulous largely overlap; however, punctilious implies minute, even excessive attention to fine points.

punctilious observance of ritual

In what contexts can scrupulous take the place of meticulous?

In some situations, the words scrupulous and meticulous are roughly equivalent. However, scrupulous applies to what is proper or fitting or ethical.

scrupulous honesty

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of meticulous The meticulous production cycle for Birkin bags, however, has contributed to their scarcity, and some critics have complained that the purses have been more readily available to existing, ultra-wealthy customers of the brand. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026 Lasdun, by contrast, insists on delivering a meticulous retelling of the Murdaugh case, complete with byzantine subplots involving the suspicious death of the family’s housekeeper and the murder of another local teenager. — Literary Hub, 25 June 2026 Chef Natsuko Shoji blends Tiffany glamour with Japanese ingredients, craftsmanship, and meticulous attention to detail. — Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026 Love planet Venus will also slip into meticulous Virgo on July 9, adding an air of minimalism and practicality to relationship dynamics, money matters and our personal values. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for meticulous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meticulous
  1. careful
  2. conscientious
  3. loving
  4. diligent
Adjective
  • Determination and careful calculations — hold on, carry the 2 — are a must.
    — Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
  • Graduate students face lower federal limits and the loss of Grad PLUS, requiring careful financial planning.
    — Scott White, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • Earth-friendly, conscientious gardeners learn to slow down and pay attention — not only to plants but to the many creatures that share the garden.
    — Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026
  • With its opaque rules and rigid customs, even the most conscientious traveler can put a foot wrong in Japan.
    — Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
Definition of conscientious
Adjective
  • Jones’s mother, Sarah, had a habit of moving everywhere her sons lived—sometimes loving, often angry.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 3 July 2026
  • Reynolds was a loving mother of two, according to Facebook photos cited by the Charlotte Observer.
    — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026
Definition of loving
Adjective
  • Bowen plays the diligent pro golf tour director of public relations and Happy’s kind, caring love interest Virginia Venit.
    — Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
  • Now, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue says its diligent job is done, signaling full containment of the fires soon.
    — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026
Definition of diligent

Browse Nearby Words

meticulosity
meticulous
meticulously
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Cite this Entry

“Meticulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meticulous. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on meticulous

Nglish: Translation of meticulous for Spanish Speakers

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