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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 Chapters graft careful reporting with his own running commentary, at turns cheeky and poignant and angered by the tenuous state of gay rights and acceptance. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025 However, the inevitable overall reductions in water supply and their economic consequences could be significantly offset with careful new sources of supply and water use reductions. Jay Lund, Oc Register, 27 June 2025 Know that your current manager may already be aware of the interest, so be careful. Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 26 June 2025 But after careful reexamination using more accurate radiocarbon dating methods, the boomerang’s origin is likely closer to 40,000 years ago. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for careful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for careful
Adjective
  • The prospect of higher inflation even as present data looks mild has led to a staredown between the Fed, which has advocated for a cautious approach on cutting interest rates in case tariffs do worsen inflation, and Trump, who has aggressively called for big cuts.
    Derek Saul, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • Fire officials warn the public to be cautious and clean up debris around homes as the warmer months bring out more rattlesnakes.
    Helena Wegner, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • After a year and a half, Baltusrol Golf Club’s Upper Course has been reborn through a meticulous $23 million restoration project overseen by golf architect Gil Hanse, one of the hottest names in the design game.
    Erik Matuszewski, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • After harvest comes the meticulous process of rinsing, drying, salting and weighing the caviar.
    Kylie Williams, Miami Herald, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • But for investors who are wary of the susceptibility of Argos’s sales to the unpredictable nature of the weather, the team is ramping up its efforts to expand its products to include stockless ranges.
    John Choong, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Be wary of mailbox communications: Bad actors may also try to scam you through snail mail.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • As any stunt coordinator or conscientious director will tell you, the trick is to make the stunt look dangerous but not be dangerous.
    Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 14 June 2025
  • Most arbitrators are highly conscientious professionals who take their job very seriously.
    Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
Adjective
  • This can overwhelm analysts and lead to alert fatigue.
    Bhupendra Singh, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The city's fire chief, Kevin Keddy, said the lifeguard was alert and conscious following the incident.
    Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • All cats regardless of age deserve a safe and loving home.
    Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
  • Additionally, researchers discovered that even when children are placed in safe and loving settings, like with responsive adoptive parents, some of them naturally shunned connection.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • That takes diligent work – sifting through records, tracking down the people with the key information, sometimes fighting to get that information made public.
    Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
  • That scouts regard Bogaerts as one of MLB’s most diligent workers is actually concerning.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Careful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careful. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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