Your Smart Vocabulary Companion

Etymology

From Latin "meticulosus" meaning "fearful, timid," from "metus" meaning "fear." Entered English in the 1820s. Interestingly, the original meaning emphasized fearful caution, but modern usage focuses on the careful attention to detail that results from such caution.

Usage Examples

1. "The surgeon's meticulous technique resulted in minimal scarring and faster recovery times."

2. "She kept meticulous records of every business expense for tax purposes."

3. "The restoration team was meticulous in matching the original paint colors and materials."

Synonyms

• Careful
• Precise
• Thorough
• Painstaking
• Scrupulous

Antonyms

• Careless
• Sloppy
• Negligent
• Hasty
• Imprecise

Fun Facts

• Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks show his meticulous approach to understanding anatomy, physics, and nature.
• In forensic science, meticulous evidence collection and documentation can make or break a case.
• The term "meticulous" is highly prized in professions like architecture, engineering, and medicine where attention to detail is critical.

Word Family

• Meticulously (adverb): In a meticulous manner
• Meticulousness (noun): The quality of being meticulous
• Meticosity (noun): Rare variant meaning excessive attention to detail