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scrupulous

adjective
scru·​pu·​lous | \ ˈskrü-pyÉ™-lÉ™s How to pronounce scrupulous (audio) \

Definition of scrupulous

1 : having moral integrity : acting in strict regard for what is considered right or proper
2 : punctiliously exact : painstaking working with scrupulous care
Other Words from scrupulous Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about scrupulous

Sentence

While many assume that a conservative reading of the Constitution will lead inevitably to a conservative interpretation, Amar has argued, in scholarly articles and in a previous book, "The Bill of Rights," that paying scrupulous attention to the text, history and structure of the Constitution often reveals support for liberal outcomes. — James Ryerson, New York Times Book Review, 6 Nov. 2005


Most clients praise the lawyer effusively. Rubenstein declares that Grubman never represents both parties in any one matter, is scrupulous in disclosing his relations to all his clients and abides by the conflict rules of the legal profession. — Johnnie L. Roberts, Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2001


Tax-shelter proliferation has reached such epidemic proportions that it has actually spurred a backlash among the more conscientious members of the tax profession. A few scrupulous tax lawyers have anonymously leaked details of shelter schemes to the IRS. — Franklin Foer, New Republic, 5 June 2000


She was always scrupulous about her work.


The work requires scrupulous attention to detail.


Less scrupulous companies find ways to evade the law.

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Other Words from scrupulous

scrupulously adverb
scrupulousness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for scrupulous

upright, honest, just, conscientious, scrupulous, honorable mean having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right. upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles. a stern and upright minister honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness. known for being honest in business dealings just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable. workers given just compensation conscientious and scrupulous imply an active moral sense governing all one's actions and painstaking efforts to follow one's conscience. conscientious in the completion of her assignments scrupulous in carrying out the terms of the will honorable suggests a firm holding to codes of right behavior and the guidance of a high sense of honor and duty. a difficult but honorable decision

careful, meticulous, scrupulous, punctilious mean showing close attention to detail. careful implies attentiveness and cautiousness in avoiding mistakes. a careful worker meticulous may imply either commendable extreme carefulness or a hampering finicky caution over small points. meticulous scholarship scrupulous applies to what is proper or fitting or ethical. scrupulous honesty punctilious implies minute, even excessive attention to fine points. punctilious observance of ritual

Did You Know?

Scrupulous and its close relative "scruple" ("an ethical consideration") come from the Latin noun scrupulus, the diminutive of "scrupus." "Scrupus" refers to a sharp stone, so scrupulus means "small sharp stone." "Scrupus" retained its literal meaning but eventually also came to be used with the metaphorical meaning "a source of anxiety or uneasiness," the way a sharp pebble in one's shoe would be a source of pain. When the adjective "scrupulous" entered the language in the 15th century, it meant "principled." Now it also commonly means "painstaking" or "careful."

Examples of scrupulous in a Sentence

While many assume that a conservative reading of the Constitution will lead inevitably to a conservative interpretation, Amar has argued, in scholarly articles and in a previous book, "The Bill of Rights," that paying scrupulous attention to the text, history and structure of the Constitution often reveals support for liberal outcomes. — James Ryerson, New York Times Book Review, 6 Nov. 2005 Most clients praise the lawyer effusively. Rubenstein declares that Grubman never represents both parties in any one matter, is scrupulous in disclosing his relations to all his clients and abides by the conflict rules of the legal profession. — Johnnie L. Roberts, Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2001 Tax-shelter proliferation has reached such epidemic proportions that it has actually spurred a backlash among the more conscientious members of the tax profession. A few scrupulous tax lawyers have anonymously leaked details of shelter schemes to the IRS. — Franklin Foer, New Republic, 5 June 2000 She was always scrupulous about her work. The work requires scrupulous attention to detail. Less scrupulous companies find ways to evade the law.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 But his critics, many of them scientists, have noted the government's policy of encouraging deforestation has boosted both the land clearance that helps fires rage, and given the less scrupulous farmer license to burn. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, "'All you can see is death.' The regions reeling from the Amazon rainforest fires," 25 Aug. 2019 Right-wing groups in particular have recognized the political value of such discoveries, and in doing so have cast a shadow of suspicion over Israeli archaeology, even as practiced by its most scrupulous scholars. — Rachel Poser, Harper's magazine, "Common Ground," 19 Aug. 2019 Mueller, a former F.B.I. director, sees himself as a fact finder, a scrupulous prosecutor. — Eric Lach, The New Yorker, "Live Stream: Robert Mueller’s Testimony on Donald Trump and the Russia Investigation," 24 July 2019 Throughout that campaign, the press emphasized his personal charm and scrupulous intelligence. — John Patrick Leary, The New Republic, "How Washington’s Elite Learned to Love Policy Wonks," 5 July 2019 Muslims imprisoned—a remark that drew censure from one of the most scrupulous documenters of the detentions. — Patrick Dehahn, Quartz, "More than 1 million Muslims are detained in China—but how did we get that number?," 4 July 2019 Around him were acres of cats, including more than 100 tigers - the kind of volume that leads some critics to say sanctuaries like Taft's stockpile cats, not that different from less scrupulous operators like Joe Exotic. — oregonlive.com, "The trouble with tigers in America," 13 July 2019 Yet with the release of Mr Biden’s and Ms Warren’s plans, both less quixotic and more scrupulous than the earlier sketches, the debate is much improved. — The Economist, "The Democratic front-runners respond to the Green New Deal," 14 June 2019 Katy Textor was a scrupulous journalist and a wonderful storyteller. — Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, "'60 Minutes' Producer Katherine Textor Dies at 45," 15 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scrupulous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of scrupulous

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for scrupulous

Middle English, from Latin scrupulosus, from scrupulus — see scruple entry 2

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More Definitions for scrupulous

scrupulous

adjective
How to pronounce scrupulous (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of scrupulous

: very careful about doing something correctly
: careful about doing what is honest and morally right

See the full definition for scrupulous in the English Language Learners Dictionary

scrupulous

adjective
scru·​pu·​lous | \ ˈskrü-pyÉ™-lÉ™s How to pronounce scrupulous (audio) \

Kids Definition of scrupulous

: careful in doing what is right and proper

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