Definitions

painstaking

[peynz-tey-king, peyn-stey-] / ˈpeɪnzˌteɪ kɪŋ, ˈpeɪnˌsteɪ- /

ADJECTIVE

meticulous, thorough

Synonyms

STRONGEST

assiduous careful conscientious diligent earnest exacting scrupulous strenuous

STRONG

detail-oriented

WEAK

by the book by the numbers conscionable exact finicky fussbudget fussy hard-working heedful industrious particular persevering persnickety picky punctilious punctual sedulous stickler thoroughgoing

Antonyms

STRONGEST

careless lazy lethargic negligent thoughtless uncareful unconcerned unenthusiastic unscrupulous

WEAK

easy half-baked half-done unmindful unthorough

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Painstaking forensic work - including from an entomologist who analysed insect activity on the body - gave an estimate of when he had died.

From BBC • Oct. 18, 2025

Painstaking attempts to eliminate them are underway in a neighborhood of East San José and in Gilroy.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 30, 2024

Painstaking comparison of its abbreviated entries revealed 440 unknown titles that were originally in the library.

From Science Daily • Feb. 12, 2024

Painstaking progress was being made, but covid caused major setbacks.

From Washington Post • Feb. 13, 2022

"Painstaking and anxious to do well, but rather slow," was the verdict of his mathematical teacher.

From War Letters of a Public-School Boy by Jones, Henry Paul Mainwaring

Vocabulary lists containing painstaking

List 8

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Hatchet

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The Haunting of Hill House

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