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 punctiliously

carefully, meticulously, warily, delicately, thoroughly, laboriously, gingerly, faithfully, deliberately, correctly, fully, scrupulously, precisely, discreetly, rigorously, anxiously, conscientiously, prudently, attentively, strictly

Examples from the Web for punctiliously

Contemporary Examples of punctiliously

Otherwise, slavish adaptations–being, punctiliously observant adaptations–are likely to be a dead doornail.
Mr. Darcy Comes Out
Nicole LaPorte
September 16, 2009

Historical Examples of punctiliously

They were punctiliously polite, too polite for a horse-ranch outfit.
The Treasure Trail
Marah Ellis Ryan
The five shillings were most punctiliously returned from this point, which also we left soon.
My Life
Josiah Flynt
Ceremonious etiquette and detail duties were punctiliously observed.
Mexico
Susan Hale
His external religious duties were most punctiliously performed.
Rose Clark
Fanny Fern
Punctiliously they saluted, and Clifford strode back to the house.
Peggy Owen and Liberty
Lucy Foster Madison

British Dictionary definitions for punctiliously

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 punctiliously

punctilious

adj.

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