painstaking
[ peynz-tey-king, peyn-stey- ]
/ ˈpeɪnzˌteɪ kɪŋ, ˈpeɪnˌsteɪ- /
Save This Word!
adjective
noun
careful and diligent effort.
QUIZ
GOOSES. GEESES. I WANT THIS QUIZ ON PLURAL NOUNS!
Test how much you really know about regular and irregular plural nouns with this quiz.
Question 1 of 9
Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?
synonym study for painstaking
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.
OTHER WORDS FROM painstaking
pains·tak·ing·ly, adverbpains·tak·ing·ness, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use painstaking in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for painstaking
painstaking
/ (ˈpeɪnzˌteɪkɪŋ) /
adjective
extremely careful, esp as to fine detailpainstaking research
Derived forms of painstaking
painstakingly, adverbpainstakingness, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012