meticulous

adjective

me·​tic·​u·​lous mə-ˈti-kyə-ləs How to pronounce meticulous (audio)
: marked by extreme or excessive care in the consideration or treatment of details
a meticulous researcher
meticulosity noun
meticulously adverb
meticulousness noun

Did you know?

Meticulous Has Fearful Roots

It may surprise you to learn that meticulous is derived from the Latin word for "fearful"—meticulosus—and ultimately comes from the Latin noun metus, meaning "fear." Although meticulous currently has no "fearful" meanings, it was originally used as a synonym of "frightened" and "timid." This sense had fallen into disuse by 1700, and in the 19th century meticulous acquired a new sense of "overly and timidly careful" (probably influenced by the French word méticuleux). This in turn led to the current meaning of "painstakingly careful," with no connotations of fear at all. The newest use was controversial among some usage commentators at first, but it has since become by far the most common meaning and is no longer considered an error.

Choose the Right Synonym for meticulous

careful, meticulous, scrupulous, punctilious mean showing close attention to detail.

careful implies attentiveness and cautiousness in avoiding mistakes.

a careful worker

meticulous may imply either commendable extreme carefulness or a hampering finicky caution over small points.

meticulous scholarship

scrupulous applies to what is proper or fitting or ethical.

scrupulous honesty

punctilious implies minute, even excessive attention to fine points.

punctilious observance of ritual

Examples of meticulous in a Sentence

Always meticulous about his appearance in the past, he had become dirty and unkempt, with straggly hair, stained clothes, and patches of silver stubble on his chin. Minette Walters, Fox Evil, 2002
She was very much the craftswoman, all her work meticulous, slow, perfect. Simon Winchester, The Professor and the Madman, 1998
In dense, meticulous arguments … Brooten mounts an assault on that view. Cullen Murphy, Atlantic, August 1993
He described the scene in meticulous detail. He is meticulous about keeping accurate records.
Recent Examples on the Web Four women's murders and the meticulous way their bodies were staged has the feel of a ghost story, not an actual criminal case. Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 9 Mar. 2024 Their clarity is legendary, illuminating nuances in acoustic instruments with dynamic range so wide both bombastic bass lines and ASMR whispers are revealed with meticulous finesse. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024 Most visually striking are Isabella Whitfield’s meticulous layouts of individual rice grains, placed in rows fixed by plaster and clay inside large flat bowls that are mounted on the wall. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 The singer says a meticulous skin care regimen has become part of his self-care practice. USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024 The meticulous curation of colors throughout the showcase is simply breathtaking, with each hue more captivating than the last, leaving a lasting impression long after the show’s conclusion. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 6 Mar. 2024 By investing in fresh ingredients and meticulous preparation, the airline ensures that passengers not only receive a unique meal, but a reason to return. Lela London, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 But there is also something meticulous and almost reverential in the gesture — an acknowledgment that this food is precious and requires a gentle touch. Ligaya Mishan Kyoko Hamada, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024 This meticulous governance ensures that shared insights are accurate, unbiased and conducive to organizational goals. Amit Verma, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'meticulous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "fearful," borrowed from Latin metīculōsus, metūculōsus "timid, apprehensive," from metū-, stem of metus "fear, dread" (of uncertain origin) + -culōsus (in perīculōsus "involving danger, perilous")

Note: The senses "overscrupulous," then "careful, scrupulous" may depend on French méticuleux, for which these meanings are attested somewhat earlier than in English.

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of meticulous was in 1827

Dictionary Entries Near meticulous

Cite this Entry

“Meticulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meticulous. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

meticulous

adjective
me·​tic·​u·​lous mə-ˈtik-yə-ləs How to pronounce meticulous (audio)
: extremely or overly careful in thinking about or dealing with small details
a meticulous researcher
meticulously adverb
meticulousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on meticulous

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