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

The painstaking process of collecting and checking these ballots speaks both to election integrity and to giving voters access and opportunities to vote.

From Los Angeles Times

Global financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have been working with international lenders to help developing countries restructure their debt, but the process has been slow and painstaking.

From New York Times

This is Tennessee displacing the loving, reasoned, painstaking decisions of parents who are trying to do right by their children.

From Slate

That is the state of affairs Donald Trump would like to produce with respect to the federal cases against him, which special counsel Jack Smith has developed in painstaking detail over the last two years.

From Los Angeles Times

Over five painstaking weeks, he built the track up with shimmering looping patterns of notes, topping off the layered composition with harp glissandi, reverb-drenched piano and an aching melody worthy of a late-Pink Floyd guitar solo.

From New York Times

Related Words

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