Conscientious

Wishing to do what is right; diligent and careful in carrying out duties.

adjective

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Imagine This

Imagine a meticulous student who labels every folder, checks every citation, and reviews each paragraph twice before submitting an essay, because their conscience won’t let them hand in sloppy work.

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Sounds Like

sounds like 'con-science-ous' (conscience + -ous).

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Looks Like

Looks like 'conscience' + '-ous' (suggesting moral awareness and thoroughness).

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Remember This

Conscientious is tied to a sense of duty and ethics; it is used to describe people who are careful, reliable, and hardworking. Do not confuse with conscious (awake) or conscience (moral sense).

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Other Forms

conscientiouslyadverb

conscientiousnessnoun

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Connect With

diligence, meticulous, scrupulous, thorough, reliable

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Note

Typically describes a person's behavior or approach to tasks. Use with 'about' (conscientious about) or 'conscientiously' (adverb).

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Study Deeper

Examples

The conscientious student double-checked every citation and proofread the essay before submitting it.
A conscientious nurse monitors patients closely and adheres to safety protocols.

Synonyms

diligentmeticulousthoroughscrupulousreliable

Antonyms

carelessnegligentsloppy

Etymology

From Latin conscientiosus meaning 'having knowledge with one’s conscience', formed from con- 'with' + scientia 'knowledge', ultimately related to conscience; the suffix -ous turns the root into an adjective meaning 'full of or characterized by'.

Mnemonic

Conscience + -ous: Let your conscience guide you to be thorough and careful in everything you do.