Definition of painstaking
:the action of taking pains :diligent care and effort
- painstaking research
- a painstaking process
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From the M-W Editors
First Known Use of painstaking
1538
Examples of painstaking in a Sentence
The book describes the election process in painstaking detail.
she was always painstaking about her work
Recent Examples of painstaking from the Web
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Though the circumstances and the nature of the regimes of North Korea and Iran are different, the same painstaking multilateral diplomacy that produced the deal with Tehran will be needed to resolve the stand-off with Pyongyang peacefully.
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In 1956, Shelton developed the Premature Infant Training Program at Michael Reese to help other nurses learn the painstaking procedures used in the around-the-clock care of premature infants.
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But the painstaking and heartbreaking work of clearing streets, going door to door, assessing damage — and finding victims — has not yet begun.
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A painstaking, trowel-by-trowel dig unearthed three small pine coffins – and shocking news.
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In the twilight of his life, the figurative curator is now a literal one, planning in painstaking detail recreations of what was once and never will be again.
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In the Murat House, circa 1790, a painstaking renovation uncovered original interior coquina walls.
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Congressional Democrats took these warnings seriously, and passed their reforms through a painstaking, regular process — first in the House, and then in the Senate, which mustered the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster in December, 2009.
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Through painstaking diplomacy, the Obama administration and its international partners negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to halt the Iranian nuclear program.
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.
First Known Use of painstaking
circa 1685
painstaking Synonyms
Synonyms
careful, conscientious, fussy, loving, meticulous, scrupulousAntonyms
carelessRelated Words
assiduous, diligent, indefatigable, persevering, sedulous; exhaustive, thorough, thoroughgoing; alert, attentive, observant, vigilant, watchful; accurate, exact, precise, strict; critical, demanding, discriminating, exacting, fastidious, finicky, particular; cautious, chary, circumspect, gingerly, guarded, heedful, mindful, wary; deliberate, plodding, slow; studied, thoughtful; all-out, determined, dogged, intensive, patient, tenacious, tireless, zealousNear Antonyms
cursory, halfhearted; heedless, inattentive, incautious, mindless, regardless, unguarded, unsafe, unwary; lax, neglectful, negligent, slipshod, sloppy, slovenly; imprecise; inaccurate, uncritical, undemanding, undiscriminating; bold, impetuous, rash, reckless; apathetic, indifferent, lackadaisical, lazy, lazyishPAINSTAKING Defined for English Language Learners
painstaking
adjective
Definition of painstaking for English Language Learners
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: showing or done with great care and effort
PAINSTAKING Defined for Kids
painstaking
play
adjective
pains·tak·ing
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ˈpān-ˌstā-kiŋ
\
Definition of painstaking for Students
:taking or showing great care
- painstaking work
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painstakingly
adverbLearn More about painstaking
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See words that rhyme with painstaking Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for painstaking Spanish Central: Translation of painstaking Nglish: Translation of painstaking for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of painstaking for Arabic speakers
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