meticulous
26 synonyms and 13 antonyms for meticulous, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Extremely careful and precise about details.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
solicitous
fastidious
groundly
in-depth
letter-perfect
painstaking
punctilious
root and branch
scrupulous
scrutinous
sedulous
Antonyms
How to use meticulous
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
meticulous attention to detail
meticulous planning
meticulously researched
Etymology
From Latin meticulosus ("fearful, timid"), from metus ("fear"). The modern sense of "careful about detail" developed later, likely influenced by the similar French word méticuleux.
Full origin of meticulous →Frequently asked questions
What does “meticulous” mean?
The word “meticulous” means extremely careful and precise about details. In plain terms, paying very close attention to every small detail.
How do you pronounce “meticulous”?
“Meticulous” is pronounced mih-TIHK-yih-lihs (/mɪˈtɪkjɪlɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “meticulous” in a sentence?
Here is “meticulous” used in a sentence: “The surgeon was meticulous in checking every instrument before the operation.”
What is another word for “meticulous”?
Words with a similar meaning to “meticulous” include accurate, careful, comprehensive, solicitous, conscientious and fastidious.
What is the opposite of “meticulous”?
The opposite of “meticulous” — its antonyms — are automatic, careless, cursory, haphazard and perfunctory.
What part of speech is “meticulous”?
“Meticulous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “meticulous” come from?
The word “meticulous” comes from Latin. From Latin meticulosus ("fearful, timid"), from metus ("fear"). The modern sense of "careful about detail" developed later, likely influenced by the similar French word méticuleux.
Is “meticulous” a common word?
“Meticulous” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
