meticulous
gb/mətˈɪkjələs/ us/mətˈɪkjələs/
C1
English
precíz, aprólékos, alapos, gondosan kidolgozott, túlságosan aprólékos, szőrszálhasogató
C1
1
Usage pattern:
meticulous about [something] / meticulous in doing [something]
She’s meticulous about citing sources, even for informal reports.
Még a nem hivatalos jelentésekben is aprólékosan ügyel a források feltüntetésére.
He kept meticulous records of every expense during the project.
A projekt során minden egyes kiadásról precíz nyilvántartást vezetett.
The editor is meticulous and catches errors that everyone else misses.
Learner examples
My teacher is meticulous about grammar.
A tanárom nagyon aprólékos, ha nyelvtanról van szó.
He is meticulous in his work.
Precíz a munkájában.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use it for someone who is simply 'tidy'; it more often means careful and accurate, especially with work and details.
Meaning
very careful about details
Collocations
meticulous attention to detail
|meticulous planning
|meticulous preparation
|meticulous research
|meticulous records
|meticulous notes
|meticulous work
|a meticulous approach
|meticulous checking
|meticulous standards
Synonyms
thorough (Emphasizes covering everything, not missing steps.)
|
painstaking (Highlights the time and effort involved.)
|
scrupulous (Often suggests strict care and integrity as well as detail.)
|
precise (Focuses on exactness rather than checking every detail.)
Antonyms
careless (Not paying enough attention; making avoidable mistakes.)
|
sloppy (Messy or badly done because of low care.)
|
hasty (Done too quickly to be careful.)
Themes
work
|education
|communication
Definition
very careful, and checking details closely
Extremely careful and precise, paying close attention to small details in order to avoid mistakes.
C1
2
alapos
B1
Usage pattern:
a meticulous [plan/study/inspection/process]
The team produced a meticulous report with clear data and references.
A csapat világos adatokat és hivatkozásokat tartalmazó, gondosan kidolgozott jelentést készített.
After a meticulous inspection, the engineer approved the bridge design.
Az alapos vizsgálat után a mérnök jóváhagyta a híd tervét.
The model was built with meticulous care over several months.
Learner examples
We made a meticulous plan for the trip.
Gondosan kidolgozott tervet készítettünk az utazáshoz.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse it for any 'good' work; it specifically means careful about small details and accuracy.
Meaning
done with great care
Collocations
a meticulous plan
|a meticulous study
|meticulous analysis
|meticulous inspection
|meticulous documentation
|meticulous design
|meticulous craftsmanship
|meticulous editing
|meticulous scheduling
|meticulous organization
Synonyms
careful (More general; does not always imply detailed checking.)
|
methodical (Emphasizes following an orderly method.)
|
detailed (Focuses on including many details, not necessarily accuracy.)
Antonyms
rough (Not detailed; only approximate or temporary.)
|
approximate (Not exact; not worked out in full detail.)
Themes
work
|crafts
|science
Definition
done very carefully and correctly
Carried out with extreme care and attention to detail, so that the result is accurate and well organized.
C1
3
Usage pattern:
meticulous about [minor details] / meticulous to a fault
He’s so meticulous about formatting that it slows the whole team down.
Annyira szőrszálhasogató a formázással kapcsolatban, hogy az egész csapatot lelassítja.
Her meticulous checking can be helpful, but it sometimes feels excessive.
Az aprólékos ellenőrzése hasznos lehet, de néha már túlzásnak hat.
The instructions were meticulous in a way that made the task harder, not easier.
Learner examples
She is meticulous to a fault.
Már-már túlzottan aprólékos.
Common mistake:
This negative sense often depends on context; on its own, 'meticulous' is usually positive.
Meaning
too concerned with details
Collocations
almost meticulous
|overly meticulous
|meticulous to a fault
|meticulous about minor details
|meticulous about rules
|meticulous about punctuation
|meticulous about procedures
|meticulous about formatting
|meticulous in the extreme
|meticulous by nature
Synonyms
fussy (More informal; often suggests annoyance or trivial concerns.)
|
pedantic (Stresses excessive concern for rules and small points, especially in knowledge or language.)
Antonyms
easygoing (Not strict or overly concerned about details.)
|
laid-back (Informal; relaxed and not worried about small details.)
Themes
personality
|work
|relationships
Definition
too careful about small details
So focused on small details and correctness that it becomes excessive, slow, or annoying.
Grammar
Dictionary form
meticulous
IPA
GB/mətˈɪkjələs/
US/mətˈɪkjələs/
Syllables & stress
me - tic - u - lous (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tic)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: meticulous
Word family
Core family
meticulously
adverb C1
meticulousness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
careless
adjective B1
carelessly
adverb B1
Expressions
be meticulous about [something]
1/bˈi mətˈɪkjələs əbˈaʊt sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
be very careful about something
to be very careful about something
Examples
- He’s meticulous about backing up his files.
- She’s meticulous about following the recipe exactly.
- We need to be meticulous about safety checks.
Learner examples
- I am meticulous about my notes.
be meticulous in doing [something]
1/bˈi mətˈɪkjələs ˈɪn dˈuɪŋ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
do something very carefully
to do something very carefully
Examples
- The lab technicians are meticulous in recording results.
- She was meticulous in checking every figure before submitting the report.
- He’s meticulous in cleaning and maintaining his tools.
Learner examples
- She is meticulous in studying.
meticulous attention to detail
1/mətˈɪkjələs ətˈɛnʃən tə dˈiteɪl/
fixed phrase
careful focus on details
being very careful about small details
Examples
- The application was prepared with meticulous attention to detail.
- Her meticulous attention to detail makes her an excellent proofreader.
- They rebuilt the old house with meticulous attention to detail.
Learner examples
- He works with meticulous attention to detail.
meticulous to a fault
1/mətˈɪkjələs tə ə fˈɔlt/
idiom
too careful to be helpful
so careful that it causes problems
Examples
- She’s meticulous to a fault, and meetings often run long because of it.
- He was meticulous to a fault, rewriting the same email five times.
- Our manager is meticulous to a fault, which can slow decision-making.
Learner examples
- My brother is meticulous to a fault.