punctilious
adjective
Showing great attention to detail or correct behavior; very careful about observing rules and formalities with exact precision.
Etymology
From Italian "puntiglioso" (petty, captious), from "puntiglio" (a fine point), from Latin "punctum" (point). The word emphasizes minute, point-by-point precision.
Examples in Use
- 1.
"The punctilious butler ensured every aspect of dinner service was perfect."
- 2.
"Her punctilious adherence to protocol sometimes frustrated her creative colleagues."
- 3.
"He was punctilious about grammar, correcting even casual emails."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
Punctiliousness was highly valued in diplomatic circles, where minor protocol errors could cause international incidents. Even today, diplomatic gift-giving follows punctilious rules about appropriate items and their values.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 11 letters (P, U, N, C, T, I, L, I, O, U, S)
Scrabble Value: 15 points
Tip: Try building from common prefixes or suffixes when you spot these letters.
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