DETAILED Synonyms: 195 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'detailed' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of detailed are circumstantial , minute , and particular . While all these words mean "dealing with a matter fully and usually point by point," detailed stresses abundance or completeness of detail. // a detailed analysis of the event

Q: When might 'circumstantial' be a better fit than 'detailed'?

Although the words circumstantial and detailed have much in common, circumstantial implies fullness of detail that fixes something described in time and space. // a circumstantial account of our visit

Q: In what contexts can 'minute' take the place of 'detailed'?

The words minute and detailed can be used in similar contexts, but minute implies close and searching attention to the smallest details. // a minute examination of a fossil

Q: When could 'particular' be used to replace 'detailed'?

The meanings of particular and detailed largely overlap; however, particular implies a precise attention to every detail. // a particular description of the scene of the crime

detailed 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈtāld

Definition of detailed

as in thorough

including many small descriptive features a detailed report on all the activities that their Scout troop had been involved in over the past year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in intricate

made or done with great care or with much detail a detailed miniature of the royal palace

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

detailed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of detail

as in appointed

to assign to a place or position once again he was detailed to guard duty

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in nominated

to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty the new assistant was detailed to accompany the boss on the business trip

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in listed

to specify one after another detailed all of the reasons that the plan was a bad idea

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

generalized

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective detailed differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of detailed are circumstantial, minute, and particular. While all these words mean "dealing with a matter fully and usually point by point," detailed stresses abundance or completeness of detail.

a detailed analysis of the event

When might circumstantial be a better fit than detailed?

Although the words circumstantial and detailed have much in common, circumstantial implies fullness of detail that fixes something described in time and space.

a circumstantial account of our visit

In what contexts can minute take the place of detailed?

The words minute and detailed can be used in similar contexts, but minute implies close and searching attention to the smallest details.

a minute examination of a fossil

When could particular be used to replace detailed?

The meanings of particular and detailed largely overlap; however, particular implies a precise attention to every detail.

a particular description of the scene of the crime

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 detailed

Adjective

The Democratic Mayors Association issued guidance to local Democratic officials with detailed instructions about what to do if federal agents appear at polling locations. — Steve Peoples, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026 To bolster its case, the company’s consultants had produced a series of detailed reports citing the area’s history of oil production, along with Citation’s own water testing data. — Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 27 Oct. 2026

Verb

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten detailed the decision not to pursue charges in 2024 in a lengthy statement issued after the lawsuit was filed. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Oct. 2026 In June 2026, the draft legislation was detailed in a Spotlight Delaware article that said the bill is likely to be introduced in the state legislature next year. — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for detailed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for detailed

Adjective

But their 20-3 loss to the Seahawks (4-3) was so thorough, unsightly and disillusioning as to render the 5-0 run-up to it entirely suspect — especially considering the Chiefs’ thorny schedule ahead.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
Under the existing two-step process, competing teams must include thorough engineering and financial details as part of their proposals before NASA selects finalists for further study.

— Josh Dinner, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of thorough

Adjective

For the work, Harvey drew on ancient jewelry in the Met collection from Greece, India, and China, and then spent time in the Manufacture learning guillochage, a technique for engraving intricate patterns like leaves and flowers onto metal.

— Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Here the final abode of souls redeemed by Christ in heaven is depicted as an intricate urban environment.

— Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of intricate

Verb

Then last month, Kwan appointed former Rwandan Minister of State for Infrastructure Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye as RFO’s principal of emerging markets and business development to drive investment flows between Asia and Africa.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
He was appointed by Commissioner Richard Lara to serve on the city’s charter review committee and recently resigned from the city’s planning and zoning board to run for office.

— Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of appointed

Verb

Over the course of her long career, Curtis, 67, has developed a lengthy résumé in film and television, winning numerous accolades along the way, including an Oscar and an Emmy (she’s been nominated for a Grammy too — there’s still time for an EGOT).

— Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Even = Paweł Pawlikowski, Fatherland Having been previously nominated for Cold War, Pawlikowski comes into the season sporting a Best Director prize from Cannes for his spartan postwar travelogue.

— Nate Jones, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of nominated

Verb

Sguros was listed as the informant on West’s death certificate, the affidavit said, and several months after the initial death investigation, Sguros was legally authorized to release West’s remains to a cremation service business.

— Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
Lowndes listed his income at $238,153 in 2025 from the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium in Anchorage and $7,744 as mayor of Maitland.

— Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of listed

Adjective

As of Friday morning, with a full day left to vote early in the state of Georgia, the records were already falling.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026
James uses this potential fault as a guiding principle of his writing for the Disklavier, full of crisply interlocking ostinatos.

— Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of full

Adjective

Fielder has made a career out of constructing elaborate social experiments, like building exact replicas of people’s homes and hiring actors to impersonate their loved ones on The Rehearsal.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026
That interest in lighting is something Berck would chase, leading him to create an elaborate Halloween and Christmas light show in middle school for his Naperville home at 10S287 Alan Road.

— Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of elaborate

Verb

Google just posted two quarters of negative free cash flow for the first time on record as AI spending accelerates while revenue isn’t growing as fast as expected.

— Lucy Bayly, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
Officials posted abroad wishing to defect must dexterously evade state security officials stationed alongside them and come to peace with the fact that loved ones back home will surely be punished.

— Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of posted

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detail

detailed

detailedly

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Style

“Detailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detailed. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of detailed

adjective

verb

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