methodical
Americanadjective
-
performed, disposed, or acting in a systematic way; systematic; orderly.
a methodical person.
-
painstaking, especially slow and careful; deliberate.
adjective
Related Words
See orderly.
Other Word Forms
- antimethodic adjective
- antimethodical adjective
- antimethodicalness noun
- methodically adverb
- methodicalness noun
- nonmethodic adjective
- nonmethodical adjective
- nonmethodicalness noun
- premethodical adjective
- quasi-methodical adjective
- unmethodic adjective
- unmethodical adjective
- unmethodicalness noun
Etymology
Origin of methodical
First recorded in 1560–70; methodic, from Latin methodic(us) or directly from Greek methodikós; method, -ic + -al 1
Explanation
Methodical means following a method. If you follow the same sixteen steps in the same order when you make a fire, you could be said to take a methodical approach to this activity. The idea of moving slowly and orderly through a process can at times be dismissed as bureaucratic or obsessive, but when you use the word methodical to describe it, chances are you think that it's good to follow a method. The only thing missing from a methodical approach is inspiration — dancers shouldn't be too methodical; engineers should.
Vocabulary lists containing methodical
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 3
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird
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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.
This requires methodical, thoughtful action on the part of policymakers.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026
“In the ’90s, there was no DNA, so everything had a slower pace and a more methodical way about it,” Sarnoff says.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026
While Amodei cemented a reputation for his methodical approach to AI development, Michael and Hegseth became known for their cutthroat approach to business and war.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026
Samson toppled the pillars of the West Indies bowling attack in a methodical manner - expertly picking his moments to attack and increase the tempo of the chase with ruthless calculation.
From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026
Even with methodical training they were inclined to run off at the mouth, make unnecessary displays of themselves, unconsciously slip in the tiniest flourish that could scare off a nervous contact.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
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.
