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
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Adjective
But now a painstaking process to preserve the studio’s archives — possibly more than 75,000 images — has begun. Houston Cofield, New York Times, 14 May 2025 Jeff Raider, the brand’s CEO, describes the painstaking process of testing different blade angles given that slight flexibility. Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 13 May 2025 Co-written with Alice Winocour, the series proved highly entertaining for many thanks to both its memorable characters and sense of authenticity, fruit of painstaking documentation typical of Bron, a distinguished documentarian. John Hopewell, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025 The state’s sweeping education reform bill took another painstaking step forward Tuesday, when a second Senate committee give it preliminary OK and rejected a separate House version. William J. Ford, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 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 31 May. 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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