conscientious
Americanadjective
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governed by conscience; controlled by or done according to one's inner sense of what is right; principled.
She's a conscientious judge, who does not let personal prejudices influence her decisions.
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careful and painstaking; particular; meticulous; scrupulous.
conscientious application to the work at hand.
adjective
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involving or taking great care; painstaking; diligent
-
governed by or done according to conscience
Synonym Usage
See painstaking.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of conscientious
First recorded in 1605–15; from Medieval Latin conscientiōsus, equivalent to Latin conscienti(a) conscience + -ōsus -ous
Explanation
If someone is conscientious, that person strives to do what's right and to carry out her duties. Conscientious people show care and put in a big effort. Being conscientious has to do with being careful, thoughtful, and decent. A conscientious doctor will do everything possible to help a patient. A conscientious teacher will spend extra time with students, just to make sure they're learning. A boss wishes every worker could be conscientious: it's a rare and wonderful trait. To be conscientious, you have to be willing to do the right thing even when it's difficult. Unfortunately, many people aren't conscientious.
Vocabulary lists containing conscientious
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The Great Gatsby
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Labor Day Lexicon: Words That Put You To Work
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Conscientious employees are often stereotyped as disgruntled, mentally ill or troublemakers who are out for fame, profit or revenge.
From Salon • Jul. 17, 2025
Conscientious restaurants use feedback from customers as a way to improve their performance.
From Washington Post • Oct. 21, 2022
Conscientious objection also could not be claimed if a pregnant woman’s life or health was in danger.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 29, 2020
Conscientious people are more likely to do things that are good for them.
From The Guardian • Jun. 21, 2020
At a meeting of the "No-Conscription Fellowship" last week, Mr. Philip Snowden referred to the Conscientious Objectors as the "Salt of the Earth."
From Punch, or The London Charivari, Vol. 150, April 19, 1916 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
