painstaking

[ peynz-tey-king, peyn-stey- ]
See synonyms for: painstakingpainstakingspainstakinglypainstakingness 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

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

How to use painstaking in a sentence

  • Leather was another major theme this season, and the detail on some the garments was painstakingly laborious.

    At Balenciaga, Short & Sweet | Alice Cavanagh | September 26, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • Built in 1764, the house has been painstakingly restored by a Parisian couple Annick and Paul Coudrier.

  • We are learning to laugh at ourselves, to eat our pizza with corn on it, and to slowly and painstakingly listen and learn.

    Life After AIPAC's False Dichotomies | Angela Zimmann | September 4, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • The rules hereafter given must be carefully studied and every example painstakingly examined.

    Assimilative Memory | Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
  • There was a pause, and Mrs. Walbridge glanced anxiously from one to the other of the two painstakingly indifferent faces.

    Happy House | Betsey Riddle, Freifrau von Hutten zum Stolzenberg
  • Painstakingly he smooths out a little air and returns it to the astonished monarch.

    Seeing Things at Night | Heywood Broun
  • I can see my father yet, as he stands before the mirror, painstakingly adjusting the tie he had chosen for the day's wear.

    Tramping on Life | Harry Kemp
  • Afterward all details are painstakingly worked out, until the ideal blossoms into the perfectly executed performance.

    Piano Mastery | Harriette Brower

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