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Synonyms

conscientious

American  
[kon-shee-en-shuhs, kon-see-] / ˌkɒn ʃiˈɛn ʃəs, ˌkɒn si- /

adjective

  1. 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.

    Synonyms:
    dedicated, devoted, faithful, honest, upright, just
  2. careful and painstaking; particular; meticulous; scrupulous.

    conscientious application to the work at hand.


conscientious British  
/ ˌkɒnʃɪˈɛnʃəs /

adjective

  1. involving or taking great care; painstaking; diligent

  2. governed by or done according to conscience

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See painstaking.

Other Word Forms

  • conscientiously adverb
  • conscientiousness noun
  • hyperconscientious adjective
  • hyperconscientiously adverb
  • hyperconscientiousness noun
  • overconscientious adjective
  • overconscientiously adverb
  • unconscientious adjective
  • unconscientiously adverb
  • unconscientiousness noun

Etymology

Origin of conscientious

First recorded in 1605–15; from Medieval Latin conscientiōsus, equivalent to Latin conscienti(a) conscience + -ōsus -ous

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.

"You have to be mindful and conscientious," she said, noting that last year's hosting gig in the shadow of deadly fires that devastated Los Angeles was a case in point.

From Barron's

He declared himself a conscientious objector during World War II. He was imprisoned, abandoned by his family and returned to Birmingham only to be further ostracized.

From The Wall Street Journal

A spontaneous jaunt like that is probably something he wouldn’t have done years ago, but “after a lifetime of being a conscientious spender and saver, it felt deserved,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Rhondda Cynon Taf council said it was "important to find the right balance between deterring what is blatant and reckless vandalism of this beautiful landscape, with the enjoyment of the thousands of conscientious visitors".

From BBC

Prof Jeremy Horder, a criminal law expert at London School of Economics, said he feared an "over-broad false statement law" could "have an unduly chilling effect on the speech of conscientious people and media outlets".

From BBC