as in meticulous
taking, showing, or involving great care and effort
she was always painstaking about her work
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in effort
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of painstaking
Eric Tucker, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
The Veyron Super Sport World Record Edition was the subject of months of painstaking refurbishment.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2026
The story also highlights the painstaking work of paleontology — from the initial confusion over whether a fossil belonged to a fish, to the moment a ninth matching jawbone confirmed the twist was no accident but a remarkable product of evolution.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
The work is painstaking and gradually revelatory.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for painstaking
Adjective
Mueller was driven by a career-long passion for the painstaking work of building successful criminal cases.
—Eric Tucker, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
The Veyron Super Sport World Record Edition was the subject of months of painstaking refurbishment.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2026
The story also highlights the painstaking work of paleontology — from the initial confusion over whether a fossil belonged to a fish, to the moment a ninth matching jawbone confirmed the twist was no accident but a remarkable product of evolution.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
The work is painstaking and gradually revelatory.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for painstaking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painstaking
Adjective
-
Soderbergh extracts some fun from the ensuing cat-and-mouse logistics, from Lori’s meticulous duplication of the Christophers to Julian’s efforts to bluff her into admitting her true intentions.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The Astor family were the defining dynasty of New York's Gilded Age, and that spirit of grandeur and meticulous hosting has traveled with the brand ever since.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At a Tuesday afternoon news conference in Sacramento City Hall, the mother and daughter stood beside their attorney, immigration advocates and local lawmakers — many of whom were involved in a weeks-long effort to bring her home.—
Mathew Miranda
Updated March 31,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Of course, the usual efforts around going plastic-free and energy-efficient are in place.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Orion is a tight space for four people to navigate, so the crew members have a careful choreography to maximize the data the astronauts can gather.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Through careful tuning of an extended Kalman filter and by taking advantage of bamboo’s natural vibration-damping properties, the system slashes control latency from 15–20 milliseconds down to just 8–10 milliseconds, enhancing responsiveness while keeping flight stable.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Bondi's public embrace of the president, however, marked a sharp departure from her predecessors, who generally took pains to maintain an arm's-length distance from the White House to protect the impartiality of investigations and prosecutions.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Whether biennials or museum shows, exhibitions are spaces for learning about images, the world, and the pains and delights of being alive.—
Raphael Fonseca,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This conscientious engagement is well-suited for futures, which often reward market awareness and preparation.—
Wyles Daniel,
Sacbee.com,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The retreat’s quiet atmosphere and conscientious design reflect their belief in the restorative powers of simplicity, reflection, and connection with nature.—
Kelsey Eisen,
Robb Report,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For Samuel, Sargool and Yousif, the recognition speaks to the years of persistence and hard work that went into forming the program in order to help students feel more valued in their language and culture.—
Alexandra Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
What stands out is a common thread of persistence and impact.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Emmanuel was a loving, loving man.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Words of Affirmation For kids who listen intently and speak sweetly, your loving words matter most.—
Gail Cornwall,
Parents,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Some reviewers are unhappy with slow results — but Hers products are most effective when used consistently for a minimum of three months, and there’s no way of knowing how diligent these reviewers were.—
Rebecca Strong,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Herzog depicts the bushmen who aid Boyes as dignified, diligent and intelligent without romanticizing them while capturing the rugged beauty of the African landscape.—
Stuart Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Painstaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/painstaking. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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