punctilious

[ puhngk-til-ee-uhs ]

/ pʌŋkˈtɪl i əs /

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adjective

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

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of punctilious

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

SYNONYMS FOR punctilious

precise, demanding; careful, conscientious. See scrupulous.

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ANTONYMS FOR punctilious

careless.

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Related forms

punc·til·i·ous·ly, adverbpunc·til·i·ous·ness, nounun·punc·til·i·ous, adjectiveun·punc·til·i·ous·ly, adverb

un·punc·til·i·ous·ness, noun

Can be confusedpunctilious punctual

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

Examples from the Web for punctiliousness

This much at least I cannot help telling you, that you may observe the good breeding and punctiliousness of my worthy husband.
The History of Don Quixote, Volume II., Complete|Miguel de Cervantes
It reminds one of the punctiliousness with which Shelley sometimes gives one the sincere milk of the word according to Godwin.
Euripedes and His Age|Gilbert Murray
And that is the end of the story of the punctiliousness of Don Sebastian.
Orientations|William Somerset Maugham
In all rites, simplicity is better than extravagance; in mourning for the dead, heartfelt sorrow is better than punctiliousness.
The Sayings of Confucius|Confucius

On either side of him stood two men who also greeted me cordially, but without the punctiliousness of the Spaniard.
The Rose of Old St. Louis|Mary Dillon

British Dictionary definitions for punctiliousness

punctilious

/ (pʌŋkˈtɪlɪəs) /

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.