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Synonym Chooser

How is the word careful different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of careful are meticulous, punctilious, and scrupulous. While all these words mean "showing close attention to detail," careful implies attentiveness and cautiousness in avoiding mistakes.

a careful worker

When can meticulous be used instead of careful?

Although the words meticulous and careful have much in common, meticulous may imply either commendable extreme carefulness or a hampering finicky caution over small points.

meticulous scholarship

When could punctilious be used to replace careful?

The words punctilious and careful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, punctilious implies minute, even excessive attention to fine points.

punctilious observance of ritual

In what contexts can scrupulous take the place of careful?

While in some cases nearly identical to careful, scrupulous applies to what is proper or fitting or ethical.

scrupulous honesty

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 careful The Verona Macrame Ballet Flat from Larroudé is here to pay dividends with its Mary Jane profile; soft, flexible leather; distinct air of romanticism, aesthetically speaking; and careful attention to detail. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025 Many of these first-match successes reflect the thoughtful process and careful consideration that go into her work. Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025 Additional limitations of the study include that the approach requires careful calibration to correct for light interference between the two systems, which is a technical challenge. New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2025 Playing a real person is an ambitious endeavor, one that often requires a physical transformation and a careful study of the subject. Sam Reed, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for careful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for careful
Adjective
  • Homebuilders are getting more cautious, says economist Wolf.
    Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Markets had expected the more fiscally cautious Shinjiro Koizumi to win.
    Danny Bakst, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Martin, who is fifty-four, is the most commercially successful songwriter of the twenty-first century; his work is meticulous and precise, and his songs are taut, balanced, unyielding.
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Following the video, Swift began sharing footage from the rehearsals and set of the video, letting us into her meticulous planning process.
    Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The charges were filed despite reports that prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia were wary of the case’s merit.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025
  • But the new prices that hit Wednesday morning — along with some of the best discount offers in years — suggest the media and entertainment giant is being strategic in a year when no brand-new rides are likely to open, and many guests feel wary about the economy overall.
    Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • More than 70 percent of the participants were identified as being open-minded, conscientious, and emotionally stable.
    Alyssa Ages, Outside, 30 Sep. 2025
  • More than 30 years ago, Greider, a conscientious journalist with a keen eye for detail, exposed how the American political system had been bent toward wealthy interests who could afford to hire lobbyists.
    Zephyr Teachout, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Watkins said law enforcement should stay alert when passing by a crowd, and stop to make sure everything is OK.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Don’t get distracted by your phone, but stay alert for what’s ahead.
    Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Ultimately, Gibson rehomed his two adult dogs and their three puppies in safe, loving homes.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Tyler is being remembered as a loving brother, uncle and son.
    Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Daria watched their diligent ascent while Andrés studied the map on his phone.
    Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
  • The Hunt After years of diligent saving, a longtime renter with a $300,000 budget weighed whether to take his parents’ advice and return to his childhood building in Elmhurst, or branch out.
    Dan Levin, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Careful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careful. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.

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