as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details
old-money aristocrats with a punctilious sense of propriety
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 punctilious
The Pith: Honorable intent and punctilious adherence to proper form and method does not guarantee a set of results which flesh out a genuine phenomenon.
—
Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 23 May 2011
His punctilious, every-word-counts lyricism makes your head hurt in a good way, like GZA’s Liquid Swords, Ghostface Killah’s Supreme Clientele, and RZA’s Gravediggaz work all congealed in a thrilling sonic stew.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2023
As a protocol officer for Mr. Xi, Mr. Qin was exhaustively punctilious, said Pavel Slunkin, who was a Belarusian diplomat involved in arranging a visit by Mr. Xi to Belarus in 2015.
—David Pierson, New York Times, 26 July 2023
Having attempted to expand the boundaries of cinema with the first Avatar, the notoriously punctilious director hinted the sequel’s prolonged production process was at least partially a product of his technical ambitions and innovations.
—Vulture, 27 Apr. 2022
See all Example Sentences for punctilious 
Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 23 May 2011
His punctilious, every-word-counts lyricism makes your head hurt in a good way, like GZA’s Liquid Swords, Ghostface Killah’s Supreme Clientele, and RZA’s Gravediggaz work all congealed in a thrilling sonic stew.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2023
As a protocol officer for Mr. Xi, Mr. Qin was exhaustively punctilious, said Pavel Slunkin, who was a Belarusian diplomat involved in arranging a visit by Mr. Xi to Belarus in 2015.
—David Pierson, New York Times, 26 July 2023
Having attempted to expand the boundaries of cinema with the first Avatar, the notoriously punctilious director hinted the sequel’s prolonged production process was at least partially a product of his technical ambitions and innovations.
—Vulture, 27 Apr. 2022
See all Example Sentences for punctilious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punctilious
Adjective
-
Prosecutors argue that Mangione's possession of these items demonstrates an intent to commit a criminal act, though a formal connection to the shooting of Brian Thompson has not yet been established in these proceedings.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
-
Doubling as formal introduction to anyone who hasn’t attended a Bushwick warehouse show with 45 stoned internet rappers on the lineup, Xavier’s tape is loosely threaded together by interview clips and DJ drops that contextualize the Upper West Side native’s referential yet futuristic turn-up music.Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
They’re totally fictionalized and, in their own way, the intrusive projections of what Morgan might’ve thought happened between the two, but what he’s imagined is decorous and dramatically unsatisfying.Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 July 2024
-
At the time, this decorous attire was standard at bowling alleys, where women often wore dresses or skirts.Gabe Bullard, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 July 2024
Adjective
-
Jess, Logan, Dean is the correct Rory Gilmore ranking — Bono and Dylan get it!EW.com, EW.com, 8 Dec. 2024
-
Farrell protested the stoppage, but that animation alone was proof the referee made the correct decision.Brian Mazique, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The ceremonious confection has, after all, been a tradition for millennia: its roots trace back to ancient Rome, where grooms would break a barley cake over their bride’s head to officialize their union.Elise Taylor, Vogue, 27 July 2024
-
When the Eagle lifted off to join the Columbia, Aldrin reported seeing the rocket blast knock the flag over, an unceremonious end to a very ceremonious beginning.Jay R. Jordan, Axios, 19 July 2024
Adjective
-
Scharffen Berger 70% Cacao Bittersweet Dark Chocolate: A nice snap and melt here, but tasters said there was an acrid quality that gave it an unpleasant finish.Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 16 Dec. 2024
-
Two hundred of her closest family and friends made it on the nice list and were invited to her winter celebration.Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Not long after Friday Night Lights dropped, the rapper finally moved from mixtapes to proper albums, and he’s been a chart-topper ever since.Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
-
With proper care, each patch can be used up to 10 times.Kiana Murden, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
But less interesting doesn’t mean less impactful, as Foxx imbues with solemn reverence the emotional turmoil of re-learning to stand, walk, and clean himself.Lucy Ford, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
-
The actors are prime, but the movie is a solemn affair that could use more grandeur.Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Dec. 2024
Articles Related to punctilious
Thesaurus Entries Near punctilious
Cite this Entry
“Punctilious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punctilious. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share