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

Other Word Forms

• scrupulosity noun
• scrupulousness noun
• scrupulously adverb
• hyperscrupulosity noun
• hyperscrupulous adjective
• hyperscrupulousness noun
• underscrupulous 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

“Riefenstahl,” Andres Veiel’s scrupulous, powerful documentary about the documentarian’s efforts to rehabilitate her image and art — a biography folded into an investigation — amounts to one big “not so fast” of a response.

From Los Angeles Times

“Part of it is a symbolic gesture, and then part of it is to kind of relieve the more scrupulous Catholics of their worries about attending Mass,” Hoover said.

From Los Angeles Times

She added: "While the risk to livestock remains low, I urge all animal owners to ensure scrupulous cleanliness is in place and to report any signs of infection to the Animal Plant Health Agency immediately."

From BBC

The "Severance" writers have been so scrupulous because they want viewers to use their minds in ways that the streaming model has slowly discouraged.

From Salon

And finally, Democrats must be scrupulous in tying Republicans to the consequences of their policies.

From Salon

Related Words

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