PAINSTAKING Synonyms: 110 Similar and Opposite Words

painstaking 1 of 2

adjective

ˈpān-ˌstā-kiŋ

Definition of painstaking

as in meticulous

taking, showing, or involving great care and effort she was always painstaking about her work

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

painstaking

2 of 2

noun

as in effort

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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 painstaking

Adjective

Unfortunately, Annie’s painstaking facial sculpting does nothing to calm her nerves. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026 The current multi-year refurbishment, which started in late 2019, is a painstaking attempt to thoroughly modernize the interior facilities both aesthetically and operationally while paying tribute to the original 19th-century elegance. — William Jones, USA Today, 30 July 2026 At Aeon Mall in Kashima, a gas explosion and collapsed upper floor killed shoppers and workers, trapping others as sweltering heat complicates painstaking searches for the missing. — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 In her acknowledgments, Jacobsen pauses to remind her readers that her tale’s painstaking realism is just a literary device. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for painstaking

Recent Examples of Synonyms for painstaking

Adjective

Across the show’s three seasons, Rodriguez plays Jackie Howard, a New York native who prides herself on organization and meticulous planning.

— Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
Schuler said that is made possible by sourcing good-quality meats from local providers, making meticulous measurements for every meal and preparing the options without so much oil and butter.

— Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of meticulous

Adjective

Without careful planning to reduce the constellations’ brightness, the team found that, in the most extreme case, the satellites could outnumber visible stars by a factor of 100.

— Arielle Frommer, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
Maneuvering in tight spaces requires careful judgment of each individual case — and not just about which body part is least likely to cause offense when brought into close proximity to a fellow diner.

— Judith Martin, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of careful

Noun

In your first trimester, exercises like bear crawls, side planks and bird dogs can reduce aches and pains later in pregnancy, like pelvic girdle pain, sometimes called lightning crotch.

— Andee Tagle, NPR, 15 Aug. 2026
Only one thing gave Ruiz the kind of consolation that was truly the obverse of his physical pains, and that was the sacred figure of the Virgin Mary.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of pains

Adjective

What’s more, not all protein powders are equal, so a conscientious approach is warranted.

— Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 12 Aug. 2026
Even the most conscientious hand washers who use a basin or a full sink still use two to four times as much water as the average dishwasher cycle.

— Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 July 2026

Definition of conscientious

Adjective

After a New York City childhood spent with their loving adoptive father, Annie (Ella Rubin) and her brother Connor (Keen Ruffalo) find themselves in possession of Sterling Point, a remote island in Ontario’s Muskoka region.

— Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026
The loving mom, who also shares son Brayden, 10, with Tarek and son Hudson, 6, with Ant Anstead, shared a few photos and videos on her Instagram Stories, revealing that Taylor recently got her learner’s permit.

— Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of loving

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“Painstaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/painstaking. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of painstaking

adjective

noun

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