Punctilious: meaning and SAT practice

Punctilious (adjective) means: Very careful about details and proper behavior or conduct.

Punctilious in a sentence

The punctilious accountant checked every receipt twice before filing the report.

Similar: meticulous, precise, careful, scrupulous. Opposite: careless, sloppy.

SAT-style practice: what does “punctilious” most nearly mean?

The punctilious accountant checked every receipt twice before filing the report.

As used in the sentence, “punctilious” most nearly means

  1. bitter
  2. meticulous
  3. bombastic
  4. insurmountable
Show the answer

Answer: B. “punctilious” means: Very careful about details and proper behavior or conduct. “meticulous” is the closest match in this sentence. The other choices are real SAT-level words, but none of them carries that meaning here.

On the digital SAT this is the “Words in Context” skill, about 7 of the 54 Reading and Writing questions. The test asks what a word means as used in the passage, so a word’s most common meaning is not always the answer. More of these, with full explanations, are on SAT Words in Context practice questions.

  • canny: Shrewd and careful, especially in business or dealing with others.
  • circumspect: Careful to consider all circumstances and consequences before acting.
  • exacting: Demanding high standards and careful attention to detail.
  • judicious: Having good judgment and making wise, careful decisions.
  • painstaking: Requiring or showing great care and effort.
  • scrupulous: Extremely careful and precise about details and ethics.

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