# meticulous

/məˈtɪkjəɫəs/ (US) · /mɛtˈɪkjʊləs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/meticulous
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. timid or fearful

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old-fashioned way to describe someone who is very shy or afraid.

For teachers: denoting a state of being timid, fearful, or overly cautious. This sense is no longer used in contemporary English.

- In the old story, the meticulous mouse hid whenever he heard a noise.
- The protagonist was described as a meticulous soul, shrinking from the slightest confrontation with his peers.

Teaching tip: This sense is archaic; modern speakers only use meticulous to mean 'careful with details'.

## Examples

- He is very meticulous about keeping his desk perfectly clean.
- The architect was meticulous in her planning, ensuring every measurement was checked three times before construction began.
- The restoration of the ancient manuscript required meticulous attention to detail, as a single slip of the scalpel could destroy centuries of irreplaceable history.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.