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
If the roles of estate planner, trustee and personal representative for a client by themselves are deemed to be conflicting positions, as suggested by the court’s opinion, then punctilious adherence to the conflict rules regarding sales of financial products or insurance is even more important.
—
Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
But judging asylum claims on this standard has often been an exhaustive, slow and punctilious process, ascertaining the persecutor’s intent, verifying the claimant’s beliefs or identity at the root of the persecution and so on.
—Bill Frelick, The Mercury News, 19 July 2024
Saban was different from Carroll, more punctilious but no less competitive or curious about defenses, with an unusually keen eye for identifying talent.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2024
Rudolf, before he is eventually tasked with moving on to another camp, is a punctilious, contented autocrat.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for punctilious
Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
But judging asylum claims on this standard has often been an exhaustive, slow and punctilious process, ascertaining the persecutor’s intent, verifying the claimant’s beliefs or identity at the root of the persecution and so on.
—Bill Frelick, The Mercury News, 19 July 2024
Saban was different from Carroll, more punctilious but no less competitive or curious about defenses, with an unusually keen eye for identifying talent.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2024
Rudolf, before he is eventually tasked with moving on to another camp, is a punctilious, contented autocrat.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for punctilious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punctilious
Adjective
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This ritual, known as 'Sukye-sik,' is a formal ceremony where followers vow to live according to Buddhist teachings.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 May 2026
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For years, conservative politicians and commentators have portrayed it as a coordinated extremist threat, though law enforcement assessments have generally described it as decentralized and lacking formal leadership.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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But such disagreements tended to be handled with the decorous language of diplomacy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
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The playing position was thought more decorous than the position for the violin, and the mandolin itself was visually attractive, appearing as a fashion accessory in any number of paintings.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The correct volume is 165 million metric tons.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
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Reinsdorf feels Graham is the correct solution to these problems.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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It is celebrated with a ceremonious parade that features a cavalcade of men dressed in Roman soldier costumes, evoking a sense of solemn thanksgiving and spiritual devotion.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
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The ones named Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion by the judges make a ceremonious visit at the end of the day to the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa in downtown Denver.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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One thing that makes Vim comfortable for me is the combination of Vim-Airline and Promptline, which together provide a nice status bar that helps highlight some useful info as one is editing a file.—
Lee Hutchinson,
ArsTechnica,
6 May 2026
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Right now, trends favor nice and pleasant weather Mother's Day morning into mid-afternoon with the chance of rain increasing toward the dinner hour and beyond.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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These aren’t just any Airstreams, but ones that have been outfitted to include amenities like a little kitchenette for your morning coffee, a small couch, and a proper shower and restroom.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
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Christensen disclosed his relationship with school psychology professor Bryn Harris to the university through the proper channels in late 2025, according to CU’s vice president of communications, Michele Ames.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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Protesters carried myriad homemade signs, some tongue-in-cheek, some more solemn.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
2 May 2026
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Their day began with a solemn visit to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, which involved a meeting with families of victims and first responders.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punctilious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punctilious. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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