painstaking

adjective

pains·tak·ing | \ ˈpān-ˌstā-kiŋ

Definition of painstaking

(Entry 1 of 2)

: taking pains : expending, showing, or involving diligent care and effort painstaking research painstaking tasks painstaking accuracy

painstaking

noun

Definition of painstaking (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Other Words from painstaking Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about painstaking

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Synonyms & Antonyms for painstaking

Synonyms: Adjective

careful, conscientious, fussy, loving, meticulous, scrupulous

Antonyms: Adjective

careless

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: Adjective

The researchers depend on a painstaking process in which each scroll is scanned for roughly 24 hours. — Washington Post, "How do you read ancient scrolls too brittle to unfurl? An American scientist may have an answer.," 2 July 2019 The poems here are distillations of the most enduring wisdoms — love, hope, heartache, the unfolding of time — penned with a painstaking eye on the earthly. — Barbara Mahany, chicagotribune.com, "‘Dreaming of Stones’: Poetry collection offers spiritual solace," 23 June 2019 Yet, regulation remains a thorny issue Facebook will have to contend with across several markets in what’s likely to be a painstaking process. — Yomi Kazeem, Quartz Africa, "What does Facebook’s Libra currency mean for Africa?," 20 June 2019 The sphinx’s slow, painstaking journey began Wednesday morning. — USA TODAY, "Pride pickup, sphinx on move, Tony Stark’s cabin: News from around our 50 states," 13 June 2019 Earlier this year, the painstaking process of removing nuclear fuel rods from one of the nuclear reactors got underway. — George Ramsay, CNN, "Women's World Cup: Japan's remarkable 2011 Women's World Cup win in the aftermath of disaster," 3 June 2019 The planning for even a burn of this modest size is painstaking and politically fraught. — Scott Wilson, Washington Post, "Wet California winter is a boon for skiers and water supply. But it brings a threat: wildfires.," 17 June 2019 The planning for even a burn of this modest size is painstaking and politically fraught. — The Washington Post, The Mercury News, "Wet California winter is a boon for skiers and water supply. But it brings a threat: wildfires.," 17 June 2019 The process of developing American currency is painstaking, done by engravers who spend a decade training as apprentices. — Alan Rappeport, New York Times, "See a Design of the Harriet Tubman $20 Bill That Mnuchin Delayed," 14 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Both Corker and Senator Orrin Hatch, Republican of Utah, credited McCarry with leading the painstaking, behind-the-scenes negotiations. — Joshua Goodman, BostonGlobe.com, "Back channel with Boston roots helped free Utah man in Venezuela," 27 May 2018

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