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

• ˈscrupulously, adverb
• ˈscrupulousness, noun

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

The producers immediately looked to Redmayne to play the titular Jackal, a scrupulous British long-range assassin with an enigmatic quality.

From Los Angeles Times

And despite the combined efforts of the world’s best-resourced and most scrupulous journalistic organizations to rebut it—despite the great care these groups took to investigate the claim, to show their work, to avoid the appearance of bias, and to package their output to appeal to as many people as possible—most of Donald Trump’s supporters continued to insist that his inept lie was actually true.

From Slate

After all, these platforms—neutral to a fault, and almost pathologically scrupulous—already are what Bezos apparently wants the Post to become.

From Slate

The contrivances of the situation are inescapable, despite the scrupulous honesty of the performers in director Michael Herwitz’s charged production.

From Los Angeles Times

In the absence of that regime across the state, some less scrupulous companies are getting away with violating building codes, using sub-standard materials and employing poorly trained workers – three of the reasons cited for the high frequency of collapses.

From BBC

Related Words

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