Meaning & use
scrupulous
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Very careful to be honest and fair in what you do.
Grammar: Often used before a noun or after a linking verb; stresses moral correctness.
Patterns
- scrupulous honesty
- be scrupulous about something
- a scrupulous person
She was scrupulous in returning every borrowed item on time.
The judge was known for being scrupulous and never taking bribes.
He is scrupulous about paying his taxes correctly.
adjectivecomparable
Extremely careful and thorough, paying close attention to every detail.
Grammar: Can describe work, checks, or people; often followed by 'in' or 'about'.
Patterns
- scrupulous attention to detail
- scrupulous checking
- be scrupulous in doing something
The accountant kept scrupulous records of every transaction.
Scrupulous checking of the data revealed a tiny error.
She is scrupulous in following the safety rules.
Word forms
| comparative | more scrupulous |
|---|---|
| superlative | most scrupulous |
Common combinations
- scrupulous attention to detail
- The editor's scrupulous attention to detail caught many mistakes.
- scrupulous honesty
- His scrupulous honesty made him a trusted advisor.
- scrupulous about
- They are scrupulous about keeping promises.
- scrupulous in
- She was scrupulous in avoiding any conflict of interest.
Synonyms and how they differ
- meticulous
- Focuses on extreme attention to detail and precision, but does not necessarily imply moral honesty.
- conscientious
- Emphasizes doing one's duty carefully and thoroughly, often with a sense of responsibility.
- honest
- A general word for truthfulness; 'scrupulous' adds the idea of being extremely careful and exact.
Opposites
Word family
- scrupulously adverb
- In a scrupulous manner; with great care and honesty.
- scrupulousness noun
- The quality of being scrupulous.
- unscrupulous adjective
- Willing to be dishonest or unfair to get what you want.
Commonly confused: scrupulous or meticulous? scrupulous or unscrupulous?
scrupulous vs meticulous
'Meticulous' means very careful about small details, but it does not carry the moral honesty meaning that 'scrupulous' often does.
scrupulous vs unscrupulous
This is the opposite: 'unscrupulous' means willing to act dishonestly, while 'scrupulous' means strictly honest and careful.
Practice
Choose the sentence where 'scrupulous' is used correctly.
Choose one answer.
Option B fits because 'scrupulous' means very careful and thorough, especially about honesty and correctness. Option An is wrong because cheating is dishonest, the opposite of scrupulous. Option C is wrong because a thief is not honest. Option D is wrong because ignoring rules is careless, not careful.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “scrupulous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.