painstaking

[ peynz-tey-king, peyn-stey- ]

adjective

1. taking taking or characterized by taking pains or trouble; expending or showing diligent care and effort; careful:

   a painstaking craftsman; painstaking research.

   Synonyms: scrupulous, thorough

noun

1. careful and diligent effort.

painstaking

/ ˈpeɪnzˌteɪkɪŋ /

adjective

1. extremely careful, esp as to fine detail

   painstaking research

Derived Forms

• ˈpainsˌtakingly, adverb
• ˈpainsˌtakingness, noun

Other Words From

• painstaking·ly adverb
• painstaking·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of painstaking¹

First recorded in 1550–60; pain + -s ³ + taking

Synonym Study

Painstaking, careful, meticulous, conscientious all describe persons or behavior demonstrating attention to detail and effective task performance. painstaking stresses diligent and assiduous attention to detail in achieving a desired objective: a painstaking technician; the painstaking editing of a manuscript. Careful , the most general in sense of these words, implies serious intent to perform well and accurately whatever task one has in hand: a careful housepainter; a careful study of the social structure of gangs. Meticulous suggests extreme attention to details, especially the most minute, coupled with an almost obsessive desire to avoid error: a meticulous silversmith, every detail finished to perfection; fussily meticulous about matching shoes and clothing. Conscientious stresses scrupulous effort to obey one's sense of moral obligation to perform tasks well: a conscientious public defender; a conscientious description of the robbery.

Example Sentences

Without any explanation we watch art restorers at work, and the painstaking, technical deconstruction of a Rembrandt.

From The Daily Beast

Monitoring and surveillance are painstaking work, but necessary to finding and preparing the perfect location.

From The Daily Beast

In months of painstaking negotiations with the gang of eight, he agreed to the existing language.

From The Daily Beast

And the rational corrective is invariably slow and painstaking.

From The Daily Beast

Building cover is a long and painstaking process that involves more than remembering not to use a Hebrew word here and there.

From The Daily Beast

If not, he must carefully study the intervening pages with painstaking—for when once learned, no further difficulty can arise.

From Project Gutenberg

Women make better wormers than men, probably because they are more patient and painstaking.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes the Time Observatory would pinpoint an age and hover over it while his companions took painstaking historical notes.

From Project Gutenberg

Opportunities are constantly afforded for error, and the work must necessarily be painstaking in order to be successful.

From Project Gutenberg

The location is a rather secluded one and the painstaking care noticeable about so many ruins is lacking.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• assiduous
• careful
• conscientious
• diligent
• earnest
• exacting
• scrupulous
• strenuous