scrupulous
[skroo-pyuh-luhs]
- having scruples, or moral or ethical standards; having or showing a strict regard for what one considers right; principled: scrupulous about defending human rights.
- punctiliously or minutely careful, precise, or exact: a scrupulous attention to detail in their performance.
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Origin of scrupulous
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com1. conscientious, cautious, careful, circumspect. 2. exacting, rigorous. 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.
Antonyms
2. careless.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for scrupulously
Contemporary Examples
In the convention, Washington scrupulously followed the gag rule, so his thoughts on the proceedings are somewhat unknown.
Objects are scrupulously labeled by name, manufacturer, and material.
The Hippocratic injunction to “first, do no harm,” should be scrupulously respected.
Like his predecessors, Thein Sein was a career army officer, but unlike many others, it was said, he was scrupulously honest.
“Maarten is a fictional character, but his life intersects with real events—and they are scrupulously accurate,” Mason explained.
Historical Examples
Gilder scrupulously followed the directions of the Police Inspector.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
I was scrupulously careful not to do so, for I did imagine something like what has happened.
Questionable ShapesWilliam Dean Howells
Debt he looked upon as the road to ruin, and he scrupulously shunned it.
Cleveland Past and PresentMaurice Joblin
But the end is so desirable that the means must not be too scrupulously considered.
Roden's CornerHenry Seton Merriman
Dwellings will be artistic, æsthetic and scrupulously clean.
The Sexual QuestionAugust Forel
scrupulous
- characterized by careful observation of what is morally right
- very careful or precise
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Word Origin
C15: from Latin scrūpulōsus punctilious
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for scrupulously
scrupulous
adj.
mid-15c., from Anglo-French scrupulus, Middle French scrupuleux, or directly from Latin scrupulosus, from scrupulus (see scruple). Related: Scrupulously; scrupulousness.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper