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
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.
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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
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Mauricio Vidal has a keen eye for capturing the Caribbean region’s natural beauty, his formal framing giving careful attention to the way the environment really is a titular character here.Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 21 Dec. 2024
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On one end, a formal living and dining space with an elegant fireplace overlooks the glittering city lights, tall ceilings and herringbone floors bookending this impressive backdrop for hosting.Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2024
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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Some were skeptical that this could be correct, but more reports were needed to be sure.David Phelan, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
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But the fact that many formulations of string theory include gravity does not tell you which formulation provides the correct description of the real world.Tom Siegfried, JSTOR Daily, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The chief and Kayce seal the deal with a ceremonious blood pact.Lynette Rice, Deadline, 15 Dec. 2024
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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
Adjective
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Houston has a nice mixture of young players with some star-level veterans, all working together toward a common goal.David Faris, Newsweek, 29 Dec. 2024
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Benoit had five hits and a nice recovery from behind the net to deflect a pass headed right to Aliaksei Protas.Omar White, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Sensors like cameras and radars are calibrated to millimeter accuracy to ensure proper performance, and any deviations from specifications can lead to malfunction or reduced effectiveness.Brunno Moretti, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
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Many observers have predicted that the looming energy shortage could force people in the separatist territory to travel to Moldova proper, seeking basic amenities to get through the harsh winter and placing further strain on resources.Hanna Arhirova and Joanna Kozlowska, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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These gestures serve as solemn tributes to individuals who have served their communities and country, as well as to the memory of significant historical events.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
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Finding the cemetery after all this time was exciting but also solemn for Tony Guzzi, chief of preservation and site operations.Travis Loller, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Punctilious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punctilious. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
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