Meticulous

adjective · SAT

Meaning: Showing very careful attention to every detail.

Examples

Her meticulous field notes, which recorded the time, temperature, and location of every bird sighting, later let other scientists track changes in migration.
The restoration team was meticulous, removing centuries of grime from the painting one small square at a time.

Synonyms:

painstakingthoroughscrupulousprecise

Antonyms:

carelesssloppycursory

It traces back to Latin metus, "fear." A meticulous person is almost afraid of missing a detail.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

Because the experiment depended on tiny measurements, the lab assistant kept ______ records, double-checking every value before entering it.

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to make less severe

suggesting that something bad is about to happen

wise and careful about the future

able to recover quickly from difficulty or setbacks

keen wisdom and sound judgment

false or fake

so slight or delicate that it is hard to notice or describe

to forcibly stop or hold back something, such as an activity, information, or a feeling