scrupulous
Americanadjective
-
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
-
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
adjective
-
characterized by careful observation of what is morally right
-
very careful or precise
Related Words
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.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of scrupulous
First recorded in 1400–50; a late Middle English word from Latin scrūpulōsus; see scruple, -ous
Explanation
Scrupulous means very careful to do things properly and correctly. If you're scrupulous, you probably pay your friends back right away when they loan you money and never try to return clothing you've already worn. A scrupulous person is full of scruples, which are concerns about doing things that are morally right. Such a person is hesitant or doubtful, and might have trouble deciding what is morally right or wrong. The adjective scrupulous is from Latin scrūpulōsus, from scrūpulus, "scruple." A near synonym is punctilious.
Vocabulary lists containing scrupulous
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 8
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The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
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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.
DePetro isn’t especially scrupulous about what he allows on his social feeds.
From Slate • Feb. 23, 2026
Mr. Wallace is a scrupulous scholar, but such evidence isn’t always available.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026
Nonetheless, the portfolio’s impressive return reminds us of the need to cultivate scrupulous objectivity when digesting the financial news.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 24, 2025
Growers use blackout curtains to trick the plants into coloring earlier in the fall, but Kobayashi said they have to be scrupulous about keeping the greenhouses completely dark.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2025
“Your parents aren’t particularly generous with you, are they? But you’re so scrupulous about not borrowing money that it’s rather silly.”
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
