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

Other Word Forms

• painstakingly adverb
• painstakingness 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

Other Western powers including France and Britain in their own way also broke with Oslo's model of painstaking diplomacy and last month recognized a Palestinian state.

Read more on Barron's

In a world where time is finite, the distractions on my phone redirect me from what matters most: quality time with friends and family, effort toward my studies, and the painstaking process of graduate-school applications.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But those deals require painstaking planning with both wireless companies and their national regulators in each country.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They coaxed performances from Indy using a painstaking process of setting up experiences for him to react to, whether it was strategically employing food or creating a noise that’s novel to Indy.

Read more on Salon

It was the start of a painstaking investigation which eventually solved a 100-year-old mystery by identifying two missing Scottish soldiers.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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