WordValeconscientious
careful and diligent about duties
In more detail
1. (adjective) careful to do what you believe is right; wanting to do a job well and thoroughly
2. (adjective) showing that you care about doing something properly and completely
Examples
- 1. She is a conscientious student who always completes her homework on time.
- 2. The doctor gave conscientious attention to each patient's needs.
How to use conscientious
Conscientious describes someone who is careful and thorough because they have strong personal principles or professional standards, not merely out of obligation. It implies both moral integrity and dedication to quality work. It is more formal and carries a slightly more positive moral dimension than diligent, which focuses primarily on hard work.
Common phrases
- conscientious objector
- conscientious effort
- conscientious worker
- conscientious about details
- a conscientious approach
Synonyms
diligent · meticulous · scrupulous · thorough · principled
Opposites
careless · negligent · irresponsible
Word family
conscientiousness (noun) · conscientiously (adverb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse conscientious (careful and principled) with conscious (aware), though the words are spelled similarly and both relate to awareness in different ways.
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