meticulous
gb/mətˈɪkjələs/ us/mətˈɪkjələs/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
C1
property
1
very careful about details
very careful, and checking details closely
Usage pattern:
meticulous about [something] / meticulous in doing [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use it for someone who is simply 'tidy'; it more often means careful and accurate, especially with work and details.
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.)
Collocations
meticulous attention to detail
|meticulous planning
|meticulous preparation
|meticulous research
|meticulous records
|meticulous notes
|meticulous work
|a meticulous approach
|meticulous checking
|meticulous standards
Themes
work
|education
|communication
Examples
- She’s meticulous about citing sources, even for informal reports.
- He kept meticulous records of every expense during the project.
- The editor is meticulous and catches errors that everyone else misses.
Learner examples
- My teacher is meticulous about grammar.
- He is meticulous in his work.
adjective
C1
property
2
done with great care
done very carefully and correctly
Usage pattern:
a meticulous [plan/study/inspection/process]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse it for any 'good' work; it specifically means careful about small details and accuracy.
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.)
Collocations
a meticulous plan
|a meticulous study
|meticulous analysis
|meticulous inspection
|meticulous documentation
|meticulous design
|meticulous craftsmanship
|meticulous editing
|meticulous scheduling
|meticulous organization
Themes
work
|crafts
|science
Examples
- The team produced a meticulous report with clear data and references.
- After a meticulous inspection, the engineer approved the bridge design.
- The model was built with meticulous care over several months.
Learner examples
- We made a meticulous plan for the trip.
adjective
C1
property
3
too concerned with details
too careful about small details
Usage pattern:
meticulous about [minor details] / meticulous to a fault
Common mistake:
This negative sense often depends on context; on its own, 'meticulous' is usually positive.
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.)
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
Themes
personality
|work
|relationships
Examples
- He’s so meticulous about formatting that it slows the whole team down.
- Her meticulous checking can be helpful, but it sometimes feels excessive.
- The instructions were meticulous in a way that made the task harder, not easier.
Learner examples
- She is meticulous to a fault.
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.
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.
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.
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.