painstaking

[ peynz-tey-king, peyn-stey- ]
See synonyms for painstaking on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. taking or characterized by taking pains or trouble; expending or showing diligent care and effort; careful: a painstaking craftsman; painstaking research.

noun
  1. careful and diligent effort.

Origin of painstaking

1
First recorded in 1550–60; pain + -s3 + taking

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 for painstaking

Other words from painstaking

  • pains·tak·ing·ly, adverb
  • pains·tak·ing·ness, noun

Words Nearby painstaking

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use painstaking in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for painstaking

painstaking

/ (ˈpeɪnzˌteɪkɪŋ) /


adjective
  1. extremely careful, esp as to fine detail: painstaking research

Derived forms of painstaking

  • painstakingly, adverb
  • painstakingness, 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