punctilious

[puhngk-til-ee-uhs]

See more synonyms for punctilious on Thesaurus.com

adjective

extremely attentive to punctilios; strict or exact in the observance of the formalities or amenities of conduct or actions.

Origin of punctilious

First recorded in 1625–35; punctili(o) + -ous

Related formspunc·til·i·ous·ly, adverbpunc·til·i·ous·ness, nounun·punc·til·i·ous, adjectiveun·punc·til·i·ous·ly, adverbun·punc·til·i·ous·ness, noun

Can be confusedpunctilious punctual

Synonyms for punctilious

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precise, demanding; careful, conscientious. See scrupulous.

Antonyms for punctilious

careless.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for punctilious

ceremonious, conscientious, conventional, exact, formal, fussy, heedful, meticulous, nice, observant, painstaking, particular, persnickety, precise, proper, punctual, scrupulous, strict, conscionable, formalistic

Examples from the Web for punctilious

Contemporary Examples of punctilious

The Tory revolutionary was so punctilious and respectful of her monarch it was almost embarrassing.
Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth’s Complicated Relationship
Andrew Marr
April 8, 2013
Denis Thatcher got on well with the Queen Mother, enjoyed a drink as much as she did, and was punctilious about royal protocol.
Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth’s Complicated Relationship
Andrew Marr
April 8, 2013

Historical Examples of punctilious

Indeed I think you are too punctilious a great deal for you situation.
Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
The detectives had been punctilious to avoid ruffling the sensibilities of any and all.
From Place to Place
Irvin S. Cobb
What he discovered justified all the years of punctilious discharge of his duties.
The Stutterer
R.R. Merliss
Their relation had never been sentimental, but he had always been punctilious.
The Coast of Chance
Esther Chamberlain
Now Pitt was neat and punctilious in his attire, but he was no dandy.
William Pitt and the Great War
John Holland Rose

British Dictionary definitions for punctilious

punctilious

adjective

paying scrupulous attention to correctness in etiquette
attentive to detail

Derived Formspunctiliously, adverbpunctiliousness, noun

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

Word Origin and History for punctilious

adj.

1630s, probably from Italian puntiglioso, from puntiglio "fine point," from Latin punctum "prick" (see point (n.)). Related: Punctiliously; punctiliousness.