as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details
old-money aristocrats with a punctilious sense of propriety
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Recent Examples of punctilious
Rudolf, before he is eventually tasked with moving on to another camp, is a punctilious, contented autocrat.
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Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Dec. 2023
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
See all Example Sentences for punctilious 
Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Dec. 2023
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
See all Example Sentences for punctilious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punctilious
Adjective
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But the formal process of renaming territories, both at home and abroad, would take greater effort.Michael Wilner, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
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While leaders and managers often serve as mentors due to their influence and experience, mentorship extends beyond formal roles.Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Aside from a series of gruesome martyr scenes frescoed on the interior wall of the second ring in the late 16th century, the décor reflects late Imperial taste for decorous abstraction and costly materials.David Laskin, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
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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
Adjective
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If your submission is correct, the terms will flash in the category color and will be removed from the board.Billie Schwab Dunn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
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But staying invested, in equity markets was correct.Erik Sherman, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The vice president’s role in officiating the Electoral College count before Congress — the final step in the election process before a president takes the White House — was known for many cycles as one that was mostly uneventful and largely ceremonious.Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 6 Jan. 2025
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The chief and Kayce seal the deal with a ceremonious blood pact.Lynette Rice, Deadline, 15 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The Nintendo Switch Lite was a great way to play Switch games on a smaller device, and the Nintendo Switch OLED added a beautiful display and a handful of other nice upgrades.Jay Peters, The Verge, 16 Jan. 2025
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The engagement is certainly a nice break from the recent drama in Pats land - after New England’s season finale, the team fired first-year head coach Jerod Mayo, a move that has been heavily criticized by ex-Patriots.Ryan Morik, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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There has long been a clamour among the fans for him to be given a proper run in the team, for many reasons.Sam Lee, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
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Under proper care, and after plenty of rest, she’s been able to manage her symptoms well enough to return to work and a mostly normal life.Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In the room: The feeling was solemn and surreal, with many attendees talking about events earlier in the day for Twelfth Night to kick off the Mardi Gras season.Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 6 Jan. 2025
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The serious can exist alongside the inane, and the two enhance each other; in this universe, everyone deserves the right to a good bit of fun, and mass entertainment must serve the solemn duty of providing it.Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 20 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Punctilious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punctilious. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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