painstaking
[peynz-tey-king, peyn-stey-]
adjective
noun
careful and diligent effort.
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RELATED WORDS
carefully, barely, intensely, very, fully, intensively, wholly, completely, earnestly, highly, extremely, scrupulously, conscientiously, meticulously, comprehensively, assiduously, efficiently, eagerly, slowly, vigorously
Nearby words
- painfully,
- painkiller,
- painless,
- painlessly,
- pains,
- paint,
- paint black,
- paint bridge,
- paint horse,
- paint oneself into a corner
Origin of painstaking
Synonym study
1. 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for painstakingly
painstaking
adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
painstaking
1550s (n.), 1690s (adj.), paynes taking, from plural of pain (n.) + present participle of take (v.). Related: Painstakingly.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper