methodical

adjective me·thod·i·cal \ mə-ˈthä-di-kəl \

variants: or less commonly methodic play \-dik\

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Examples: methodical in a Sentence

Definition of methodical

1 : arranged, characterized by, or performed with method or order

a methodical treatment of the subject

2 : habitually proceeding according to method : systematic

methodical in his daily routine

a methodical worker

—

methodically

play \-di-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

—

methodicalness

play \-di-kəl-nəs\ noun

See methodical defined for English-language learners

See methodical defined for kids

Examples of methodical in a Sentence

Their methodical review of the evidence exposed some problems with the study's findings.
She's a slow and methodical worker, and her drawings reflect the extra care she takes.

Recent Examples of methodical from the Web

Myers returned for his methodical killing spree over multiple sequels and remakes.

— refinery29.com, "The Halloween Trailer Contains No Treats, Only Terror," 8 June 2018
Let’s be very methodical, very deliberative, because there are schools that have been failing in HISD for years.

— jacob carpenter, Houston Chronicle, "HISD gets partial Harvey accountability waiver, still faces state sanctions," 6 June 2018
The show’s methodical approach to dissecting the intelligence-gathering process brings to mind Zero Dark Thirty—the great film that looked at the aftermath of 9/11.

— daniel d'addario, Time, "Best TV Shows of 2018 So Far," 30 May 2018
But the methodical, meditative act of grooming a horse — brush, brush, brush — and the smell of hay and the gentle whinnies from the 1,200-pound creature have been therapy for Alger.

— petula dvorak, Washington Post, "Second Chance Farm: Four broken men, six discarded racehorses, one place saving them," 17 May 2018
In fact, before the announcement, jury selection was continuing on at a methodical (and glacial) pace.

— chris cillizza, CNN, "Yes, the scandal-plagued Missouri governor still could be impeached sometime soon," 15 May 2018
Aside from outsourcing mundane tasks to AI, Google also took a more methodical approach to helping people have healthier relationships with their devices.

— alyssa newcomb /, NBC News, "Google is now ready to let its tech do your talking," 8 May 2018
Inside the house, camera footage showed the entry team’s methodical pace as lawmen worked their way from the front of the house.

— joe robertson, kansascity, "SWAT told Olathe police not to go in, body cams show. They did anyway and killed a woman | The Kansas City Star," 5 May 2018
But Gem’s tasting-menu format, with its sombre, methodical coursing, can feel refined to the point of sanctimony.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "A Nineteen-Year-Old Chef Masters the Rules of Fine Dining," 12 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'methodical.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.