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Compulsive vs Meticulous - What's the difference?

compulsive | meticulous |

As adjectives the difference between compulsive and meticulous

is that compulsive is uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious while meticulous is timid, fearful, overly cautious.

As a noun compulsive

is one who exhibits compulsive behaviours.

compulsive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
  • * 1990 , :
  • Under this Act, the term "disability" shall not include—...(2) compulsive gambling, kleptomania, or pyromania; or...
  • Having power to compel; exercising or applying compulsion.
  • * Sharp
  • Religion is inconsistent with all compulsive motives.

    Derived terms

    * compulsiveness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who exhibits compulsive behaviours.
  • meticulous

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (archaic) Timid, fearful, overly cautious.
  • Characterized by very precise, conscientious attention to details.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1943, author=
  • , passage=The meticulous care with which the operation in Sicily was planned has paid dividends. Our casualties in men, in ships and materiel have been low—in fact, far below our estimate.}}

    Synonyms

    * careful, precise, painstaking, rigorous, scrupulous * See also

    Antonyms

    * sloppy, careless, slapdash

    Derived terms

    * meticulosity, meticulousness