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conscientious

conscientious

49 5.9
Careful and serious about doing work the right way
  • adjective
  • /ˌkɒnʃiˈɛnʃəs/
translation icon : concienzudo
  • The conscientious worker triple-checked his calculations to ensure accuracy.
  • a conscientious objector
  • conscientious objection
  • a conscientious teacher

But they also tend to be quite conscientious or like I said, workaholics.

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Examples

  • Martha was very fortunate; she had a conscientious father and loving husband.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Of course, most judges are conscientious, and states should expect their judicial officers to uphold the law.

    Academic text (2017)
  • I want to be very conscientious about that.

  • I think that on average, girls are more conscientious than boys.

  • Thank you for being conscientious.

  • Chuck to me is really what I call a really conscientious player.

  • Many of us chose this profession because we love teaching, but conscientious teaching demands time.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • He just is a more conscientious person than my kids.

  • Needless to say, it is the conscientious teacher who is most at risk.

    Academic text (1993)
  • One student, Jerry, an average but conscientious worker, was provided a private study carrel.

    Academic text (1992)

Synonyms

meticulous
vsconscientious
58 8.6

Being very careful about small details

focuses more on moral purpose and overall thoroughness rather than details
diligent
vsconscientious
37 3.6

To work carefully and try hard to finish tasks

adds a moral wish to do right alongside careful steady effort
dutiful
vsconscientious
16 3.9

Willing to do what others expect and follow rules

wishes to do what is right and focuses on moral intent while working carefully
painstaking
vsconscientious
13 6.1

Being very careful and using a lot of effort

adds a wish to do right plus careful and thorough execution
disciplined
vsconscientious
10 4.2

Acting in a controlled, orderly way and following rules because of training or self-control

is driven by wanting to do what is right and careful thorough work
scrupulous
vsconscientious
3 7.2

Careful to do things correctly and notice small details

includes a moral desire to do right as well as careful work
assiduous
vsconscientious
3 8.2

Being careful and hardworking, showing steady effort over time

adds a conscience driven wish to do right while working hard
punctilious
vsconscientious
  • Formal
1 8.9

Being very careful about small details and correct behaviour

emphasises doing right and fulfilling duty not only rule correctness

Antonyms

203 3.2

Not thinking about what will happen after you act

58 5.3

Not taking proper care and causing harm or risk

14 1.0

A lack of attention that causes mistakes or harm

Not careful about doing the right thing

Compounds

A person who refuses to join the army for moral or religious reasons

How Conscientious

scrupulous
4 7.2
meticulous
58 8.6
conscientious
49 5.9
diligent
37 3.6
dutiful
16 3.9
careless
14 1.0
negligent
58 5.3

Surface Forms

conscientious positive
conscientiouser comparative
conscientiousest superlative

Morphology

conscientious = conscience (semi-transparent) = conscience + ious

The adjective is clearly formed from 'conscience' + '-ious', but the stem spelling ('conscient-') and the shift from 'moral sense' to the combined sense 'diligent/doing what is right and careful' may not be fully obvious to B1 learners.

Etymology

Conscientious comes from Latin parts con- ('with') and scire ('to know') and is related to conscience, which means 'inner knowledge' of right and wrong. So, to be conscientious is to try to do what is right and to do your work carefully.