It is not necessary to be meticulous.
Source: tatoeba (61546)
Meticulous
/mɪˈtɪkjɪlɪs/
Synonyms for "meticulous" (259 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (52)
absoluteaccurateactiveacuteadvertentagogalertall earsall eyesall rightalrightassiduousastringentattentiveaustereauthoritarianawarecarefulcautiouscensorious
Show 6 more words
Adjective(3 words)
Adjective(16 words)
accurate throwatomic groupscarefulcareful analysiscareful approachcareful attemptcareful energy data valuescareful irrigationscareful microscope observationcareful observationcareful observation journalcareful readingcarefullercarefullestclose reading strategyclose study
Noun(7 words)
Strong matches (78)
Adjective(7 words)
Noun(7 words)
craft disciplinesdetailing processelaborate materialshairsplittinglistening for detailmicroscope-based observationmicroscopic organisms
Adjective(15 words)
daintierdelicate executiondetailed descriptiondetailed explanationdetailed medical historydetailed noticingdetailed observationsdetailed orderelaborate descriptionexcruciatingfinickiestflyspeckedintricate fabric patternmethodical approachmicroscopic analysis
Related words (129)
Adjective(30 words)
microscopic slidemicroscopic viewminute detailspainstakingparticular instancepedanticpreciseprecise definitionprecise energy valueprecise manipulationprecise measureprecise speechprecisestprimprissiestprissypunctiliousrigorous analysisrigorous argumentrigorous corroboration
Show 10 more words
rigorous sciencescrupuloussmall detailstrict burial-action protocolsurgicalthoroughthorough coordinatorthorough evidence gatheringthoroughesttrue representation
mindfulminutenarrownicenigglingobservantobservingokokayon the ballon the jobopen eyedopen-earedopen-eyedopenmouthedorderlyoverconscientiousoverscrupulouspainfulpainstaking
Show 53 more words
particularpedanticperfectperfectionistperfectionisticpernicketypicayunepickypracticingpreciouspreciseprecisianprecisianisticprecisionistprecisionisticpriggishproperprudishpunctiliouspunctualpuristicpuritanicpuritanicalrefinedregardfulreligiousrightrigidrigorousruggedscientificscrupulousscrutinizingselectivesensitiveseverespartanspartanicspecialspecificsqueamishsternstraightstraight-up-and-downstrictstringentsubtletender-consciencedthoroughtoughtrueunsparingwatchful
Adjective(16 words)
Noun(10 words)
minute observationminutermore methodicalneedlepointrigorous physicsrigorous studyscrutinizing eyesurgical historysurgical operationthorougher
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: absolute, accurate, accurate, accurate throw, active.
- Sentence evidence is available for meticulous, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, wiktionary, derived_reverse, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "meticulous".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "meticulous"
Keep "meticulous" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "meticulous" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "meticulous", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "meticulous" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
2 entriesMore specific
2 entriesCollocations
6 entriesmeticulous attentionmeticulous data collectionmeticulous methodologymeticulous note keepingmeticulous planningmeticulous record keeping
Inflections
2 entriesmore meticulousmost meticulous
Derivations
1 entriessimilar
2 entriesSample sentences
16 total sentences available.
He's not a very meticulous guy.
Source: tatoeba (71973)
Tom is so meticulous about the food he eats.
Source: tatoeba (2522695)
No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be; am an attendant lord, one that will do to swell a progress, start a scene or two, advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool, deferential, glad to be of use, politic, cautious, and meticulous; full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse; at times, indeed, almost ridiculous— almost, at times, the Fool.
Source: tatoeba (3465288)
Showing 4 of 16 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "meticulous"?
Closest matches include absolute, accurate, accurate, accurate throw, active.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "meticulous"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.