meticulous
/mɪˈtɪk.jʊ.ləs/Giving very careful attention to every small detail. A meticulous person makes sure nothing is missed or done carelessly. The word usually has a positive meaning — it shows high standards and professionalism.
- She kept meticulous records of every expense.
- His meticulous research impressed the entire committee.
- The architect was meticulous about every measurement.
Adinary Nuance
Meticulous sits in a cluster of near-neighbors — careful, thorough, painstaking, and fastidious — but each has a different flavour. "Careful" is the most general: it just means you try not to make mistakes. "Thorough" means you cover everything completely, with no gaps. "Meticulous" goes one step further: it implies an almost obsessive focus on tiny details, with a sense of precision and exactness. "Painstaking" is close, but it emphasises the hard effort involved, while "meticulous" highlights the fine-grained result. "Fastidious" can sometimes sound critical or fussy (as in, hard to please), whereas "meticulous" nearly always carries a positive, professional tone — making it the go-to word in academic writing, CVs, and IELTS essays.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tỉ mỉ
- Spanish
- minucioso
- Chinese
- 细致
- Japanese
- 細心
- Korean
- 꼼꼼한
Etymology
From Latin "meticulosus," meaning fearful or timid (from "metus," meaning fear). The word entered English in the 16th century, and its meaning shifted over time from "excessively worried" to "extremely precise and careful."
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'meticulous' a positive or negative word?
- Almost always positive. It suggests someone has high standards and great care. In rare cases, it can imply someone is overly slow or obsessive, but in professional and academic contexts it is a strong compliment.
- What is the difference between 'meticulous' and 'thorough'?
- 'Thorough' means you covered everything completely, leaving no gaps. 'Meticulous' means you paid very close attention to every tiny detail. A thorough report covers all topics; a meticulous report also perfects every sentence and fact.
- Is 'meticulous' formal? Can I use it in IELTS writing?
- Yes, it is a formal, academic-register word — ideal for IELTS essays, CVs, and professional writing. It is less common in casual spoken English, where people tend to say 'very careful' instead.
- Can 'meticulous' describe both people and things?
- Yes. You can describe a person ('She is meticulous') or a thing ('meticulous planning', 'a meticulous report'). Both uses are natural and correct.