methodical

Rarely me·thod·ic

[muh-thod-i-kuhl]

adjective

1. performed, disposed, or acting in a systematic way; systematic; orderly.

   a methodical person.

   Synonyms: precise, regular

2. painstaking, especially slow and careful; deliberate.

methodical

/ mɪˈθɒdɪkəl /

adjective

1. characterized by method or orderliness; systematic

Other Word Forms

• methodically adverb
• methodicalness noun
• antimethodic adjective
• antimethodical adjective
• antimethodicalness noun
• nonmethodic adjective
• nonmethodical adjective
• nonmethodicalness noun
• premethodical adjective
• quasi-methodical adjective
• unmethodic adjective
• unmethodical adjective
• unmethodicalness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of methodical¹

First recorded in 1560–70; methodic, from Latin methodic(us) or directly from Greek methodikós; method, -ic + -al ¹

Synonym Study

See orderly.

Example Sentences

The coach's approach is consistent with the way he was as a player: methodical, controlled and, on top of that, he has the personality to be unafraid of confrontation.

Read more on BBC

He’s bullish and impatient, she’s flexible and methodical.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Adjustments in award amounts follow a methodical, risk-informed analysis with the goal of ensuring that every dollar spent yields the maximum benefit for the American people.”

Read more on Salon

Officers are expected to remain on the scene for several days, with a number of teams trying to figure out what happened, Davis said, promising a "slow and methodical" investigation.

Read more on BBC

The NIH is leading a report on the causes of autism that was expected to be a methodical review of existing scientific literature and be released Sept. 29, according to people familiar with the matter.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• analytical 
• businesslike 
• careful 
• deliberate 
• disciplined 
• efficient 
• meticulous 
• orderly 
• painstaking 
• precise 
• scrupulous 
• structured 
• systematic