Synonyms for painstaking
- adjective
- noun
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Meticulous
meticulous, scrupulous, careful, rigorous, punctilious, particular, conscientious, thorough
2. Laborious
laborious, assiduous, diligent, industrious, earnest, hard-working, sedulous, studious
Noun
Definitions
- adj. 1
Carefully attentive to details; studious; diligent in performing a process or procedure.
- n. 1
The application of careful and attentive effort.
Forms
- Plural
- painstakings → diligences, industries, assiduities…
Example sentences
- careful You should be careful in crossing the busy street.
- rigorous Tom is following a rigorous training regimen.
- meticulous Sami Bakir has been a meticulous investigator.
- scrupulous Tom is scrupulous in matters of business.
- assiduous He is assiduous in reading as many Russian books as possible.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| painstaking | falling | |
| careful | steady | |
| rigorous | rising | |
| meticulous | steady | |
| scrupulous | steady | |
| laborious | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 7 letters
- careful2, earnest2
- 8 letters
- industry3, thorough2, rigorous3, diligent3, studious3, sedulous
- 9 letters
- diligence3, laborious4, assiduous3, assiduity
- 10 letters
- particular4, meticulous4, scrupulous3
- 11 letters
- industrious4, punctilious4
- 13 letters
- conscientious4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (careful2 = 2 syllables).