Synonyms of painstaking

painstaking 1 of 2

adjective

ˈpān-ˌstā-kiŋ 

as in meticulous

taking, showing, or involving great care and effort

she was always painstaking about her work

Synonyms & Similar Words

• meticulous
• careful
• conscientious
• loving
• diligent
• thorough
• scrupulous
• intensive
• cautious
• patient
• assiduous
• fussy
• thoughtful
• exhaustive
• indefatigable
• particular
• strict
• thoroughgoing
• watchful
• vigilant
• deliberate
• sedulous
• accurate
• attentive
• persevering
• mindful
• critical
• circumspect
• slow
• fastidious
• precise
• wary
• discriminating
• tireless
• finicky
• exacting
• observant
• demanding
• chary
• zealous
• guarded
• tenacious
• studied
• exact
• determined
• plodding
• dogged
• alert
• heedful
• gingerly
• all-out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• careless
• cursory
• regardless
• halfhearted
• negligent
• slipshod
• inattentive
• mindless
• unsafe
• sloppy
• heedless
• incautious
• lax
• slovenly
• neglectful
• unguarded
• imprecise
• unwary
• inaccurate
• uncritical
• reckless
• undiscriminating
• undemanding
• bold
• impetuous
• rash
• lazy
• indifferent
• lackadaisical
• apathetic
• lazyish

painstaking

2 of 2

noun

as in effort

Related Words

• effort
• pains
• persistence
• perseverance
• trouble
• tenacity
• bother
• application
• tirelessness
• attentiveness
• doggedness
• concentration
• diligence
• effortfulness
• attention
• assiduity
• industry
• care
• assiduousness
• industriousness
• sedulity
• sedulousness

Dissimilar Words

• carelessness
• negligence
• laziness
• idleness
• indolence
• slackness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of painstaking

Adjective

However, it was then lost for many years, thought to have been destroyed in World War II, before its recent rediscovery and painstaking restoration by la Cinémathèque française, who acquired it for their collection in 2017. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 25 June 2026

The other issue is that the nuclear deal that the Obama administration achieved in 2015 took almost two years of painstaking negotiations. — Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Rather than requiring a painstaking assemblage of clips of five or ten seconds long, as most tools offer, OpenArt’s Director allows users to put together a film as long as five minutes. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 23 June 2026

Especially impressive is this newly reborn five-star hotel, which has been lovingly restored to its Belle Epoque glory over a painstaking two-year process. — Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 19 June 2026