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

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 other words, it’s like every literary adaptation ever, if more scrupulous than most.

From Los Angeles Times

But what McAfee did on Friday stands out as an important reminder of what the law offers: fairness, impartiality and scrupulous attention to evidence.

From Salon

Before an injury took her out of the season, Tiler Peck, partnered by the scrupulous Tyler Angle, displayed a sweeping, unselfconscious musicality seemingly driven from deep within.

From New York Times

Related Words

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