The Meaning of Methodical: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of methodical? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word methodical, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!

Your writing, at its best

Compose bold, clear, mistake-free, writing with Grammarly's AI-powered writing assistant

What does the word methodical mean?

According to Collins English Dictionary and the American Heritage Dictionary of the english Language, the word methodical is an adjective that means orderly, systematic, structured or planned. This word is also sometimes spelled methodic. The suffixes ly and ness can be added to the end of the word methodical to make the related words methodically (adv.) and methodicalness (n.). Methodical is four syllables – me-thod-i-cal, and the pronunciation of methodical is məˈθɑdɪkəl. 

Many different languages also contain words that mean methodical. You may notice that some of these translations of methodical look and sound similar to the word methodical. These are called cognates, which are words and phrases that look, sound, and eman something slimalir while they are words of different languages. These are often formed when two words have the same root or language of origin. This list of translations of the word methodical is provided by Word Sense.

  •  Greek: μεθοδικός‎
  •  Russian: системати́ческий‎, системати́чный‎
  •  Nynorsk: metodisk‎
  •  Finnish: järjestelmällinen‎
  •  Yiddish: מעטאָדיש
  •  Persian: سیستماتیک‎ (sistemátik)
  •  Romanian: metodic‎ (masc.) (n)
  •  Volapük: metodik‎
  •  German: methodisch‎
  •  Italian: sistematico‎
  •  Spanish: metódico‎
  •  Portuguese: metódico‎ (masc.), metódica‎ (fem.)
  •  Hungarian: tervszerű‎
  •  Catalan: sistemàtic‎
  •  Maori: hakune‎
  •  Czech: systematický‎
  •  Maori: pūnahanaha‎
  •  Tagalog: maayusin‎‎
  •  Polish: metodyczny‎
  •  Bokmål: metodisk‎
  •  French: méthodique‎

What are synonyms and antonyms of methodical?

There are many different words that a person can use in place of the word methodical. These words with the same definition as the word methodical are called synonyms. Learning synonyms is a great way to expand your vocabulary, as well as to avoid repeating yourself in spoken and written English. This list of synonyms of methodical is from Power Thesaurus

  •  regulated
  •  careful
  •  in order
  •  businesslike
  •  rigorous
  •  well organized
  •  precise
  •  organized
  •  arranged
  •  ordered
  •  logical
  •  consistent
  •  neat
  •  well-regulated
  •  disciplined
  •  exact
  •  correct
  •  painstaking
  •  systematized
  •  analytical
  •  scientific
  •  orderly
  •  methodological
  •  structured
  •  regular
  •  methodic
  •  punctilious
  •  systematic
  •  deliberate
  •  symmetrical
  •  well-ordered
  •  thorough
  •  efficient
  •  routine
  •  shipshape
  •  tidy
  •  conscientious
  •  scrupulous
  •  normal
  •  definite
  •  accurate
  •  methodized
  •  well-organized
  •  systematical
  •  particular
  •  formal
  •  planned
  •  organic
  •  meticulous
  •  well ordered

There are also numerous different words with the opposite meaning as methodical. These are called antonyms, which are another great way to expand your English language vocabulary. These antonyms for methodical are also provided by Power Thesaurus

  •  incoherent
  •  shambolic
  •  disordered
  •  nonsystematic
  •  negligent
  •  inconsistent
  •  unsettled
  •  tumultuous
  •  promiscuous
  •  unorganized
  •  at sixes and sevens
  •  unsystematic
  •  disorganised
  •  fallacious
  •  uncoordinated
  •  chaotic
  •  scattered
  •  random
  •  extemporaneous
  •  confused
  •  haphazard
  •  irregular
  •  thoughtless
  •  systemless
  •  unstructured
  •  disjointed
  •  erroneous
  •  messy
  •  careless
  •  disarranged
  •  undefined
  •  all over the place
  •  unsystematized
  •  unordered
  •  sloppy
  •  planless
  •  orderless
  •  jumbled
  •  rash
  •  discontinuous
  •  aimless
  •  illogical
  •  erratic
  •  desultory
  •  anarchic
  •  disorderly
  •  rambling
  •  disorganized
  •  disconnected
  •  loose

What is the origin of the word methodical?

According to Etymonline, the word methodical has been used since c16 and comes from the French methodique, as well as directly from the Late Latin methodical, and the Greek methodikos. This comes from methodos, which also stemmed the related word method. 

How can the word methodical be used in a sentence?

The word methodical can be used in many different ways in natural sounding English. Using words in a sentence is a great way to memorize their definitions. You can also try making flashcards or a quiz to test your knowledge of different words’ definitions. Try using this word of the day in a sentence today! Below are several examples of the word methodical being used in a sentence to help get your started. 

The woman made a practical observation that her husband had a methodical habit for his nightly routine. He would wash his face in a suitable manner, brush his teeth in the same orderly way each night, tuck into bed for exactly one chapter of a book, which he paid careful attention to, and organize his nightstand in a precise manner before hitting the hay.

The methodical man took a grounded approach to everything he did. He believed his organization was nature’s gift, and incorporated a systematic way of doing things into his job. He was a painstaking researcher and a methodical worker. His boss enjoyed how hard he worked, but wished he would loosen up a bit. He was great at his current position, but she wasn’t sure he could handle thinking outside the box.

The methodical researcher at the ancient school of physicians at Princeton University liked things done in systematic order. She took extra care with everything she did, from the methodical process of making her lunch to the methodical review of the evidence of the study’s findings. She even went to the bathroom with methodical regularity. The idea of disorder was foreign to her behavior.

Before the debate, the student made a methodical arrangement of arguments in an organized manner, adhering to the methodical arrangement of her time the night before the tournament. Her mom would regard her methodical mind highly.

The student went about completing her thesis paper in a very methodical way. First, she made a list of everything she needed to accomplish in detail. Then, she began her paper three months before ti was due, checking one thing off of her list every week. By the time the other students were scrambling to complete their papers at the last minute, she was already finished and only needed to edit a couple of last minute changes.

Overall, the word methodical means orderly and systematic. This word is of Latin and Greek roots, and can describe someone who does things in a very logical or organized way. 

Sources:

  1. Methodical definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary 
  2. Methodical synonyms – 706 Words and Phrases for Methodical | Power Thesaurus 
  3. methodical | Origin and meaning of methodical | Online Etymology Dictionary 
  4. Methodical antonyms – 488 Opposites of Methodical | Power Thesaurus 
  5. methodical: meaning, origin, translation | Word Sense