painstaking

1 of 2

adjective

pains·​tak·​ing ˈpān-ˌstā-kiŋ How to pronounce painstaking (audio)
: taking pains : expending, showing, or involving diligent care and effort
painstaking research
painstaking tasks
painstaking accuracy
painstakingly adverb

painstaking

2 of 2

noun

: the action of taking pains : diligent care and effort
… greater painstaking to achieve incidental verisimilitude and accuracy of detail …Times Literary Supplement

Examples of painstaking in a Sentence

Adjective The book describes the election process in painstaking detail. she was always painstaking about her work
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
This painstaking level of attention continues through the process of creating all of the desserts. Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 27 June 2025 The tactics needed to overcome these entrenched and dangerous attitudes require slow and painstaking work on multiple fronts. Trickleup, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025 But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said coming to an agreement on peace with Ukraine is likely to be a long and painstaking process. Isabel Van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025 The painstaking process of reassembling these fragments has been a monumental undertaking, experts say, akin to solving an immense historical puzzle. Willem Marx, NPR, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for painstaking

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1685, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1538, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of painstaking was in 1538

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Painstaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/painstaking. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

painstaking

adjective
pains·​tak·​ing
ˈpān-ˌstā-kiŋ
: taking or showing great care and effort
a painstaking search
painstakingly
-kiŋ-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on painstaking

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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