1. characterized by extreme care and great effort (Freq. 2) - conscientious application to the work at hand - painstaking research - scrupulous attention to details • Syn: painstaking, scrupulous • Similar to: careful • Derivationally related forms: scrupulousness (for: scrupulous), painstakingness (for: painstaking), conscientiousness 2. guided by or in accordance with conscience or sense of right and wrong - a conscientious decision to speak out about injustice • Ant: unconscientious • Derivationally related forms: conscience, conscientiousness
