punctilious
Obsessed with correctness
Punctilious describes someone who pays careful attention to details of conduct, procedure, or form—often to an excessive degree.
A punctilious host follows every rule of etiquette; a punctilious editor catches every misplaced comma.
The word suggests precision that borders on fussiness: He was punctilious about returning calls within the hour.
Unlike meticulous, which emphasizes thoroughness, punctilious carries a hint of rigidity or formality.
Focused on small elements
- fastidiousExcessively attentive to detail
- thoroughComplete in every detail
- conscientiousScrupulously careful and thorough
- diligentPersistently attentive to tasks
exact · perfectionist · methodical · careful · systematic · orderly · organized · painstaking
Socially appropriate
- decorousSocially appropriate, dignified
- ceremoniousFormally observant, ritualistic
- etiquetteRules of polite conduct
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
propriety · correct · stiff · prim · conventional · orthodox · mannered · stately
Thorough and principled
- principledHaving strong moral beliefs
- conscientiousScrupulously careful and thorough
- honorableHaving high moral standards
- uprightVertical or morally sound
ethical · moral · virtuous · righteous · incorruptible · trustworthy · honest · fair
Excessive focus on trivialities
- quibblingPetty objection-raising
- captiousGiven to petty criticism
- hypercriticalExcessively prone to censure
- overparticularExcessively concerned with minutiae
nit-picking · caviling · carping · legalistic · literalistic · dogmatic · formalistic · doctrinaire
detail-oriented
Focused on small elements
- fastidiousExcessively attentive to detail
- thoroughComplete in every detail
- conscientiousScrupulously careful and thorough
diligent · exact · perfectionist · methodical · careful · systematic · orderly · organized · painstaking · precise
proper
Socially appropriate
- decorousSocially appropriate, dignified
- ceremoniousFormally observant, ritualistic
- etiquetteRules of polite conduct
protocol · propriety · correct · stiff · prim · conventional · orthodox · mannered · stately · courtly
scrupulous
Thorough and principled
- principledHaving strong moral beliefs
- conscientiousScrupulously careful and thorough
- honorableHaving high moral standards
upright · ethical · moral · virtuous · righteous · incorruptible · trustworthy · honest · fair · just
hair-splitting
Excessive focus on trivialities
- quibblingPetty objection-raising
- captiousGiven to petty criticism
- hypercriticalExcessively prone to censure
overparticular · nit-picking · caviling · carping · legalistic · literalistic · dogmatic · formalistic · doctrinaire · faultfinding
- fussinessfussiness, pickiness, picky, nitpicky, persnickety
- Fussy traitsfussy, nitpicking, finicky, persnickety, pernickety
- mannersetiquette, manners, polite, rude, politeness
- conformityconformity, conforming, conform, conformist, conformism
- precisionprecise, exact, accurate, pinpoint, spot-on
- restrainedrestrained, reserved, subdued, controlled, muted
punctiliouscasual
Relaxed and informal
informal · unceremonious · laid-back · easygoing · relaxed
punctiliousunscrupulous
Lacking moral principles
negligent · rude · impolite · uncaring · discourteous