Thorough

adj.capable, thoughtfulprofessional

What it means

Covering every important part with sustained care.

Reach for it when praising work that is complete because details were checked rather than assumed

Leo's thorough review caught the missing consent step before enrollment began.

everyday
careful
when avoiding mistakes deserves plain praise
not when Careful may still describe a limited check rather than a complete one.
warm
diligent
when the person's steady conscientious effort is the compliment
not when A diligent worker can still leave gaps in the final review.
professional
meticulous
when extremely fine detail and precision are the strength
not when Meticulous can imply painstaking slowness when broad completeness is what matters.
professional
rigorous
when a demanding method and strict standards support the result
not when Rigorous can be narrow but intense, so it does not always mean broad coverage.
professional
systematic
when an orderly method ensures nothing is skipped
not when Systematic may be complete yet mechanical, without close attention to subtle detail.
formal
comprehensive
when the scope covers all relevant subjects or parts
not when Comprehensive says little about how carefully each part was examined.
formal
exhaustive
when virtually every possibility has been covered
not when Exhaustive overstates work that addressed everything important but not every conceivable item.
literary
painstaking
when patient effort through small details should be visible
not when Painstaking emphasizes labor and can make efficient work sound burdensome.

thorough review
A thorough review found two clauses that conflicted with the new policy.
thorough understanding
Her thorough understanding of the route helped the crew plan safe stops.
thorough job
The apprentice did a thorough job of labeling every repaired circuit.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.