Meticulous — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /mə-ˈti-kyə-ləs/ me·tic·u·lous

Meaning & Definition of Meticulous

Meticulous (adjective)

  1. very careful about doing something in an extremely accurate and exact way
  2. showing or requiring extreme care and attention to detail

Meticulous (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. taking, showing, or involving great care and effort

    "did a meticulous job of restoring the painting"

    similar: careful, conscientious, fussy, loving, painstaking, scrupulous
    related: assiduous, diligent, indefatigable, persevering, sedulous, exhaustive, thorough, thoroughgoing, alert, attentive, observant, vigilant, watchful, accurate, exact, precise, strict, critical, demanding, discriminating, exacting, fastidious, finicky, particular, cautious, chary, circumspect, gingerly, guarded, heedful, mindful, wary, deliberate, plodding, slow, studied, thoughtful, all-out, determined, dogged, intensive, patient, tenacious, tireless, zealous
    opposite: careless
    near: cursory, halfhearted, heedless, inattentive, incautious, mindless, regardless, unguarded, unsafe, unwary, lax, neglectful, negligent, slipshod, sloppy, slovenly, imprecise, inaccurate, uncritical, undemanding, undiscriminating, bold, impetuous, rash, reckless, apathetic, indifferent, lackadaisical, lazy, lazyish

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Meticulous

The most common words with a similar meaning to Meticulous:

careful, conscientious, fussy, loving, painstaking, scrupulous

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Meticulous

Words with the opposite meaning of Meticulous:

careless

Related Words for Meticulous

assiduous, diligent, indefatigable, persevering, sedulous, exhaustive, thorough, thoroughgoing, alert, attentive, observant, vigilant, watchful, accurate, exact, precise, strict, critical, demanding, discriminating, exacting, fastidious, finicky, particular, cautious, chary, circumspect, gingerly, guarded, heedful

Near Antonyms of Meticulous

cursory, halfhearted, heedless, inattentive, incautious, mindless, regardless, unguarded, unsafe, unwary, lax, neglectful, negligent, slipshod, sloppy, slovenly, imprecise, inaccurate, uncritical, undemanding, undiscriminating, bold, impetuous, rash, reckless, apathetic, indifferent, lackadaisical, lazy, lazyish

Word Forms of Meticulous

Derived words: meticulosity (noun), meticulously (adverb), meticulousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Meticulous

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")

First known use: 1827

Frequently Asked Questions about Meticulous

What does "Meticulous" mean?

"Meticulous" means very careful about doing something in an extremely accurate and exact way. As an adjective, it is defined as: very careful about doing something in an extremely accurate and exact way.

What is another word for "Meticulous"?

Other words for "Meticulous" include careful, conscientious, fussy, loving, painstaking and scrupulous. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Meticulous" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Meticulous"?

There are 51 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Meticulous". Common alternatives include careful, conscientious, fussy, loving, painstaking and scrupulous.

What is the opposite of "Meticulous"?

Antonyms of "Meticulous" include careless. Near antonyms include cursory, halfhearted, heedless and inattentive.

How do you use "Meticulous" in a sentence?

Examples of "Meticulous" in a sentence: "did a meticulous job of restoring the painting".

Is "Meticulous" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Meticulous" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Meticulous"?

"Meticulous" is pronounced /mə-ˈti-kyə-ləs/ and divided into syllables as me·tic·u·lous.

What is the origin of the word "Meticulous"?

"Meticulous" comes from 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"). First known use: 1827.