scrupulous

adjective

ˈskrü-pyə-ləs How to pronounce scrupulous (audio)
Definition of scrupulousnext
1
as in honorable
guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong an exemplar of morality who was scrupulous in all of his dealings

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in meticulous
taking, showing, or involving great care and effort a scrupulous attention to detail is evident in all of his reporting

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective scrupulous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of scrupulous are conscientious, honest, honorable, just, and upright. While all these words mean "having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right," 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

When could honest be used to replace scrupulous?

In some situations, the words honest and scrupulous are roughly equivalent. However, honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness.

known for being honest in business dealings

When would honorable be a good substitute for scrupulous?

The words honorable and scrupulous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

When might just be a better fit than scrupulous?

The words just and scrupulous can be used in similar contexts, but just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable.

workers given just compensation

When is it sensible to use upright instead of scrupulous?

While in some cases nearly identical to scrupulous, upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles.

a stern and upright minister

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scrupulous This training moves front and center in John of John, building out a muscular narrative with scrupulous technique. — Literary Hub, 1 May 2026 The less scrupulous voices also invade Beverly’s meticulous household like bulls in a suburban china shop. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026 If your goal is to get at the truth, or at least our closest approximation of it at the present time, the way to do that is to be scrupulous and forthright about the strengths and weaknesses of every link in your chain of argument. — Big Think, 10 Feb. 2026 Some will be scrupulous; others will broker in conspiracy and flagrant lies. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scrupulous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrupulous
  1. honorable
  2. meticulous
  3. conscientious
  4. careful
  5. ethical
  6. loving
  7. moral
  8. diligent
Adjective
  • Initially receiving a general discharge, Matlovich’s status was later elevated to honorable.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • From Prime Minister Mark Carney’s standpoint, Canada had no honorable alternative.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of honorable
Adjective
  • This discovery highlights the crucial need for meticulous AI persona creation to prevent skewed data.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Plan Your Route Remote 4x4 travel in Iceland requires meticulous logistical planning.
    — Gwen Nicol, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of meticulous
Adjective
  • Less so is the fact that more vulnerabilities are being discovered by bounty hunters assisted by AI tools, leaving Google fighting a battle to patch them before less conscientious hackers find them and put them to criminal use.
    — Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The reptile dealers need to be more conscientious, and there needs to be more captive breeding.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of conscientious
Adjective
  • Apply the serum directly to sparse areas of your brows, being careful to avoid letting the product touch other areas of your skin.
    — Iman Balagam, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2026
  • According to the researchers, careful process design and optimization as well as architecture simplification could help in solving most of these issues, something that industrial production focuses on much more than academic researchers.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • Modern interpreters have read his 10 heads as signifying his vast knowledge of 10 sacred texts, or alternately his 10 ethical failings, but the Ramayana account describes him as 10-headed from birth.
    — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Talarico is hoping to raise further ethical questions about Paxton by publicizing the Unity Resources case.
    — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of ethical
Adjective
  • But the role of the group chat is, just as often, to subject one another to a loving humbling.
    — Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Italian mother who is a loving mother, a mother hen who cooks well.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of loving
Adjective
  • Framed as an ensemble drama rather than the story of a single heroic whistleblower, the production compresses Ibsen’s plot, reimagines the ending and leans into satire without sacrificing moral bite.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Commentators hungry for superstar validation of their culture war were calling her silence a moral failure, and some of them were the same people who, in previous news cycles, had insisted that athletes needed to shut up.
    — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of moral
Adjective
  • More recently, diligent and passionate biologists, chemists, and experts from other disciplines have used technology for contemporary experiments that reveal a spectrum of plant consciousness.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Dark circles happen, acne pops up, and dark spots can even appear despite diligent sunscreen use.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of diligent

Browse Nearby Words

scrupulosity
scrupulous
scrupulously
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Cite this Entry

“Scrupulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrupulous. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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