painstaking

1 of 2

adjective

pains·​tak·​ing ˈpān-ˌstā-kiŋ How to pronounce painstaking (audio)
: taking pains : expending, showing, or involving diligent care and effort
painstaking research
painstaking tasks
painstaking accuracy
painstakingly adverb

painstaking

2 of 2

noun

: the action of taking pains : diligent care and effort
… greater painstaking to achieve incidental verisimilitude and accuracy of detail …Times Literary Supplement

Examples of painstaking in a Sentence

Adjective The book describes the election process in painstaking detail. she was always painstaking about her work
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
Source: Dolby 'Nuanced creative decisions' The painstaking Atmos mixing process relies on input from the artists who create music in addition to Dolby’s technical capability. Mark Phelan, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025 The painstaking installation process began at the beginning of 2024, and took months of work to complete before it could be utilized for the first time. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 24 Apr. 2025 This monumental structure, composed of 1,875 glass panes, was restored through a painstaking process that involved over 100 specialists dismantling each piece and restoring each to their original colours. Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025 Paying off your debt can often feel like a sluggish, painstaking process, but there are some promising strategies that can accelerate the process. Gabriel Rodríguez, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for painstaking

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1685, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1538, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of painstaking was in 1538

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Cite this Entry

“Painstaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/painstaking. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

painstaking

adjective
pains·​tak·​ing
ˈpān-ˌstā-kiŋ
: taking or showing great care and effort
a painstaking search
painstakingly
-kiŋ-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on painstaking

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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