taking or characterized by taking pains or trouble; expending or showing diligent care and effort; careful: a painstaking craftsman; painstaking research.

Is painstaking a bad word?

A painstaking effort is one in which someone takes pains to do something right. The word is sometimes used to mean "arduous" or "difficult," almost as if it meant "painful," but this usage is widely considered to be a mistake.

What is an example of painstaking?

The definition of painstaking is requiring a lot of care, effort or hard work. An example of something painstaking is a project requiring students to count every frame in a three hour long movie, a painstaking project.