scrupulous

From Middle French scrupuleux, from Latin scrupulosus

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scrupulous (comparative more scrupulous, superlative most scrupulous)

1. Exactly and carefully conducted.

   He is scrupulous in his finances.

   • 2016, John Oliver, “Special Districts”, in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, season 3, episode 4, written by Tim Carvell; Josh Gondelman; Dan Gurewitch; Jeff Maurer; Ben Silva; Will Tracy; Jill Twiss; Seena Vali; Julie Weiner, HBO, Warner Bros. Television:

     Come on! You have got to admire their dedication to the rules! These two men are so scrupulous, they would sit at a broken red traffic light for six hours in the middle of the night. “Hey, red is red! We live in a civilized society! Red is red! We stay!”

2. Having scruples or compunctions.

   He is a scrupulous businessman and always acts in the best interest of his company.

3. Precise; exact or strict

• meticulous, painstaking
• worried
• ethical, fair-minded, honourable, just, moral, righteous
• See also Thesaurus:meticulous

• unscrupulous

• scrupulously
• scrupulousness