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

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR punctilious ON THESAURUS.COM

precise, demanding; careful, conscientious. See scrupulous.

Antonyms for punctilious

careless.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for punctiliousness

fastidiousness, pain, consciousness, meticulousness, carefulness, concern, spotlight, awareness, care, TLC, strictness, formality, usage, decorum, protocol, nicety, propriety, form, preciseness, prescription

Examples from the Web for punctiliousness

Historical Examples of punctiliousness

It must be confessed that this species of punctiliousness was carried too far.
Lippincott's Magazine, Vol. 20, August 1877
Various
Kilbourne's punctiliousness was exaggerated, but she thought she understood it.
A Sheaf of Corn
Mary E. Mann
This punctiliousness about titles has more in it than shews at first sight.
Sebastian Bach
Reginald Lane Poole
These embassies were always conducted with punctiliousness and gravity.
Stover at Yale
Owen Johnson
And that is the end of the story of the punctiliousness of Don Sebastian.
Orientations
William Somerset Maugham

British Dictionary definitions for punctiliousness

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 punctiliousness

punctilious

adj.

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