thoroughness
Americannoun
-
the quality of being painstakingly and comprehensively executed, without errors or omissions; the act or practice of executing tasks in this way.
My old cookbook remains unmatched in the clarity and thoroughness of its explanations.
They were greatly impressed by the FBI's speed and thoroughness.
-
completeness or perfection.
I had my doubts about the thoroughness of his knowledge of the subject.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of thoroughness
Explanation
When you pay careful attention to doing a task exactly right, that's thoroughness. Your thoroughness in cleaning the kitchen means that no one would ever guess you spilled brownie batter all over the floor. Thoroughness is seeing something through with meticulous care — the word's Old English root means "from end to end." The thoroughness of your research meant that you really knew what you were getting into when you adopted a puppy. A newspaper fact-checker's thoroughness means she'll get all the important details right, and printed articles won't include mistakes. And a detective's thoroughness might result in the return of your stolen laptop.
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.
Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of negotiations in Berlin, Michael Kellner, a senior lawmaker from the Greens, said that negotiators would continue their talks this week and next, adding: "Thoroughness comes before speed."
From Reuters • Nov. 16, 2021
Thoroughness, rather than speed, must be the objective of the investigation, regardless of its results.
From Washington Times • May 23, 2018
Thoroughness is favoured over accessibility, which is unsurprising given that the amount of scientific evidence on the impacts of climate change has doubled since the previous report in 2007.
From Forbes • Apr. 3, 2014
Thoroughness was her watchword because victory was her aim, its alternative being coma or death.
From England and Germany by Hughes, William Morris
How to spray: Thoroughness is the essential principle in all spraying.
From Studies of Trees by Levison, Jacob Joshua
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
