1
Careful method
Following a procedure with close attention so that errors are unlikely.
Example
The researchers used meticulous sampling methods at every site.
meticulous
/məˈtɪkjələs/ · muh-TIK-yuh-luhsadjective
Extremely careful and precise.
Use meticulous when close attention to every detail produces unusually accurate or orderly work.
What meticulous Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Precise records
Documenting information completely, accurately, and in an orderly form.
Example
The archivist's meticulous records allowed later scholars to reconstruct the collection.
3
Fine craftsmanship
Executing small or complicated details with exceptional care.
Example
Meticulous restoration revealed the mural's original pattern.
Use meticulous Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The archivist was meticulous, checking every date against three independent records.
Meticulous preparation allowed the team to detect a tiny error.
The report reflects years of meticulous observation and careful measurement.
Precision Matters
Meticulous overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
meticulous
vs.Signals an unusually high degree of detailed care.
careful
Is broader and less emphatic.
meticulous
vs.Emphasises precision in individual details.
thorough
Emphasises completeness across the whole task.
meticulous
vs.Describes the care shown by a person or process.
exacting
Often describes a demanding standard or requirement.
meticulous
vs.Centres on precision and detail.
scrupulous
Can also emphasise moral honesty and adherence to principles.
Test meticulous in Context
Recording changes as small as one-tenth of a degree shows what kind of care is being described.
1
To ensure that other researchers could reproduce the experiment, Chen kept a meticulous record of every adjustment, including changes as small as one-tenth of a degree.
As used in the text, “meticulous” most nearly means…