scrupulous

[ skroo-pyuh-luhs ]

adjective

1. having scruples, or moral or ethical standards; having or showing a strict regard for what one considers right; principled:

   scrupulous about defending human rights.

   Synonyms: ethical, moral, upright, honest, conscientious

2. punctiliously or minutely careful, precise, or exact:

   a scrupulous attention to detail in their performance.

   Synonyms: rigorous, exacting, circumspect, cautious, thorough, meticulous, careful

   Antonyms: careless

scrupulous

/ ˈskruːpjʊləs /

adjective

1. characterized by careful observation of what is morally right
2. very careful or precise

Derived Forms

• ˈscrupulousness, noun
• ˈscrupulously, adverb

Other Words From

• scru·pu·los·i·ty [skroo-py, uh, -, los, -i-tee], scru·pu·lous·ness noun
• scru·pu·lous·ly adverb
• hy·per·scru·pu·los·i·ty noun
• hy·per·scru·pu·lous adjective
• hy·per·scru·pu·lous·ness noun
• un·der·scru·pu·lous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrupulous¹

First recorded in 1400–50; a late Middle English word from Latin scrūpulōsus; scruple, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrupulous¹

C15: from Latin scrūpulōsus punctilious

Synonym Study

Scrupulous, punctilious imply abiding exactly by rules. Scrupulous implies conscientious carefulness in attending to details: scrupulous attention to details. Punctilious suggests strictness, preciseness, and rigidity, especially in observance of social conventions.

Example Sentences

Nonetheless, the test pilots, both known to be scrupulous in their preparations, felt confident enough to go.

From The Daily Beast

The less scrupulous have made financial hay out of a diagnosis that promises easy access to stimulants.

From The Daily Beast

Imagine what General Electric and Bank of America and Exxon Mobile and every less-than-scrupulous business in America will do.

From The Daily Beast

I was not good, not even scrupulous, but I had no idea of deceiving either myself or Tessie.

From The Daily Beast

And with one Yuletide exception, this scientifically scrupulous view has carried the day.

From The Daily Beast

Keen and canny, they drive a close bargain but, scrupulous and conscientious, fulfil it faithfully.

From Project Gutenberg

The labor in pressing and twisting is entirely done by hand, and attended to with the most scrupulous care.

From Project Gutenberg

Had I not known him, I should have seen in the scrupulous part in his hair a suggestion of the foppish.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Giles, dressed with scrupulous care in a full suit of black, was in attendance upon them.

From Project Gutenberg

He is too scrupulous to seek to seduce the wife of another; he even fears to contract an illicit intimacy with a maid or a widow.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• conscientious
• fastidious
• fussy
• honest
• meticulous
• painstaking
• precise
• rigorous
• strict