1
Core quality
Showing exact and careful attention to rules, formalities, procedures, and small details.
Example
The punctilious clerk checked every signature twice.
punctilious
/pʌŋkˈtɪliəs/ · punk-TIL-ee-usadjective
Showing exact and careful attention to rules, formalities, procedures, and small details.
Use punctilious to express this relationship precisely: showing exact and careful attention to rules, formalities, procedures, and small details.
What punctilious Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Attributive or predicative use
Use this adjective before a suitable noun or after a linking verb such as be or seem.
Example
She was punctilious about following diplomatic protocol.
3
Analytical distinction
Choose it when this exact descriptive quality matters; a related word may overlap without conveying the same trait.
Example
His punctilious notes made the experiment easy to reproduce.
Use punctilious Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The punctilious clerk checked every signature twice.
She was punctilious about following diplomatic protocol.
His punctilious notes made the experiment easy to reproduce.
Precision Matters
Punctilious overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
punctilious
vs.Means showing exact and careful attention to rules, formalities, procedures, and small details.
remiss
Means careless or failing to perform a duty, responsibility, or expected action.
punctilious
vs.Means showing exact and careful attention to rules, formalities, procedures, and small details.
haphazard
Means random, disorganised, and lacking a deliberate method.
punctilious
vs.Means showing exact and careful attention to rules, formalities, procedures, and small details.
flippant
Means not showing the seriousness, respect, or thoughtful consideration that a subject deserves.
punctilious
vs.Means showing exact and careful attention to rules, formalities, procedures, and small details.
meticulous
Means extremely careful and precise.
Test punctilious in Context
The archivist observes rules and small details with exact care.
1
The archivist was so ___ that every label followed the prescribed format down to its punctuation.