Scrupulous

Part of speech: adjective (a.)

1. Full ofscrupules; inclined to scruple; nicely doubtful; hesitating to determine or to act, from a fear of offending or of doing wrong. Abusing their liberty, to the offense of their weak brethren which were scrupulous. Hooker.

2. Careful; cautious; exact; nice; as, scrupulous abstinence from labor; scrupulous performance of duties.

3. Given to making objections; captious. [Obs.] Equality of two domestic powers Breed scrupulous faction. Shak.

4. Liable to be doubted; doubtful; nice. [Obs.] The justice of that cause ought to be evident; not obscrure, not scrupulous. Bacon.

Synonyms: Cautious; careful; conscientious; hesitating. Scru"pu*lous*ly, adv. Scru"pu*lous*ness, n.