punctilious

adjective

ˌpəŋk-ˈti-lē-əs How to pronounce punctilious (audio)
Definition of punctiliousnext
as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details old-money aristocrats with a punctilious sense of propriety

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word punctilious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of punctilious are careful, meticulous, and scrupulous. While all these words mean "showing close attention to detail," punctilious implies minute, even excessive attention to fine points.

punctilious observance of ritual

Where would careful be a reasonable alternative to punctilious?

The synonyms careful and punctilious are sometimes interchangeable, but careful implies attentiveness and cautiousness in avoiding mistakes.

a careful worker

In what contexts can meticulous take the place of punctilious?

The words meticulous and punctilious can be used in similar contexts, but meticulous may imply either commendable extreme carefulness or a hampering finicky caution over small points.

meticulous scholarship

When can scrupulous be used instead of punctilious?

While the synonyms scrupulous and punctilious are close in meaning, scrupulous applies to what is proper or fitting or ethical.

scrupulous honesty

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of punctilious Eliminate the constant replays to create punctilious correctness. — Richard E. Vatz, Baltimore Sun, 15 June 2026 Rick is tightly scheduled, punctilious to a fault, endowed with verbal wit that gently but firmly shapes and smooths social interactions. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 29 May 2026 The Irish actor Andrew Scott deftly embodies James Stagg, the punctilious Scottish chief meteorologist. — Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 29 May 2026 The following top 10 best horror movies of 2024 are all quality films that will stand the test of time thanks to their punctilious craft. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 1 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for punctilious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punctilious
  1. formal
  2. decorous
  3. correct
  4. ceremonious
  5. nice
  6. proper
  7. solemn
Adjective
  • Early acting career Although Turner had no formal training, his raw talent soon caught the eye of several television directors.
    — L. Sue Baugh, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • When the Soviet Union collapsed, NATO lost its formal justification.
    — JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of formal
Adjective
  • What used to be called UFOs and now go by the more decorous handle of UAPs—or unidentified anomalous phenomena—are being given the full investigatory treatment.
    — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The press coverage in Austria and Germany had been relatively decorous.
    — William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of decorous
Adjective
  • Processor defenses leave a tiny opening Modern processors improve performance by predicting which path a program is likely to follow and beginning the work before the correct path is confirmed.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Officials said the school also improved its graduation rate from 75% to 95% and its faculty saw in the number holding the proper credentials — from 43 to more than 90 who have the correct subject matter licenses.
    — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of correct
Adjective
  • It is celebrated with a ceremonious parade that features a cavalcade of men dressed in Roman soldier costumes, evoking a sense of solemn thanksgiving and spiritual devotion.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
  • The ones named Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion by the judges make a ceremonious visit at the end of the day to the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa in downtown Denver.
    — Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
Definition of ceremonious
Adjective
  • This one is a nice pick for yourself or someone else who wants to try a handful of trending beauty brands to find their new holy grail products.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The brown one’s okay, but purple — looking royal — that’d be nice.
    — Maria Bamford, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of nice
Adjective
  • Potassium is a mineral your body needs for proper heart and muscle function.
    — Zia Sherrell, HEALTH, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Bailey, who also serves as Bank of England governor, warned about the absence of proper guardrails around the technology, underscored by recent incidents in which frontier AI models being tested went rogue.
    — Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of proper
Adjective
  • The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner made a solemn pledge to never stop trying.
    — Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Both are powerful spots of natural beauty and deep cultural significance, but for a less solemn outing, the little islet of Ojima sits neatly between the two.
    — Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of solemn

Browse Nearby Words

punchy
punctilious
punctiliously
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Cite this Entry

“Punctilious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punctilious. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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