methodical

Language: en

🇺🇸 /məˈθɑdəkəl/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Done according to a systematic or established form of procedure; orderly and methodical in approach.; Characterized by or exhibiting order, regularity, and careful attention to detail; not haphazard.; Slow and deliberate in action; proceeding in a steady, unhurried manner.; Relating to or characteristic of Methodism or the Methodist church.; Following a fixed or prescribed method; adhering strictly to a particular system or set of rules.

🔗 Details

Word forms

Comparative: more methodical Superlative: most methodical

Collocations

methodical approachmethodical mannermethodical waymethodical processmethodical search

Derivatives

methodicallymethodicalnessmethodmethodologymethodological

Synonyms

systematicorderlymeticulousthoroughorganizeddisciplined

Antonyms

haphazarddisorganizedcarelessrandomchaotic

Commonly confused

meticulous
EN: 'Meticulous' emphasizes extreme attention to fine detail; 'methodical' emphasizes following a systematic, step-by-step order.
methodological
EN: 'Methodological' relates to the study or theory of methods (academic); 'methodical' describes a person or action that is orderly and systematic.

Spelling tips

EN: Do not confuse 'methodical' (adjective meaning systematic) with 'methodological' (relating to methodology as a discipline). Also note the single 'l' before the suffix: method + -ical.

💬 Examples

  1. She was methodical in her research, carefully documenting every step of the experiment.

  2. His methodical approach to organizing the files made it easy for anyone to find what they needed.

  3. The old clockmaker worked with methodical precision, never rushing a single gear into place.

  4. The methodical hymns sung in the chapel reflected the traditions of the early Methodist movement.

  5. The accountant was methodical in applying the new tax regulations to every client's return.